METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING YIELD OF SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

A method and system are disclosed for improving a yield of circuits produced from a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of design rules are established for designing a layout of the circuit within the wafer. A yield-limiting set of the plurality of design rules are selected. Adherence to each of the set of rules throughout all of the layout reduces the yield. For each one of the set of rules, a recommended value is determined. A percentage of occasions each one of the set should be exceeded within the layout is also determined. The layout is then designed so that each one of the set of the plurality of design rules meets or exceeds the recommended value more often than the percentage.