US Patent 7469401 Method for using partitioned masks to build a chip

A mask reuse methodology process in which the soft logic is implemented with a generic array type cell structure mask and a custom blocking mask. A method is provided comprising printing a set of component cores onto a die at predetermined locations with a reusable mask set; providing a custom blocking mask that includes opaque regions that positionally correspond with the component cores on the die; superimposing the custom blocking mask with a generic array type cell mask to form superimposed masks; and using the superimposed masks to print generic array type cells onto the die with the exception of the predetermined locations where the set of component cores reside.