Layout symmetry constraint checking method and layout symmetry constraint checking apparatus

摘要

A layout symmetry constraint checking method and apparatus for efficiently checking a layout symmetry constraint is provided. The layout symmetry constraint is checked by performing a first checking step of checking, for example, a match between shapes of a symmetrical element pair for input layout data, a second checking step of checking whether or not a relative positional relationship between elements is contradictory to the layout symmetry constraint, and a third checking step of checking whether or not a geometric placement of the elements satisfies the layout symmetry constraint. When an error occurs in each of the checking steps, a cause for the error is specified and presented to the designer, thereby achieving efficient layout design.