GLOVE: a graph-based layout verifier

A technique for the design rule verification of layouts composed of library cells is presented. Instead of directly manipulating mask geometries, DRC correctness is tied to a set of user defined patterns of allowed cell interactions called templates. Design rule verification is achieved by covering the layout with these templates. Both layouts and templates are defined in terms of graphs and all operations are performed in the graph domain. The verification procedure is incremental and because the number of cell instances is much smaller than the number of mask geometries it is much faster than techniques that directly manipulate mask geometries