A linear time algorithm for covering simple polygons with similar rectangles

We study the problem of covering a simple orthogonal polygon with a minimum number of (possibly overlapping) squares, all internal to the polygon. The problem has applications in VLSI mask generation, incremental update of raster displays, and image compression. We give a linear time algorithm for covering a simple polygon, specified by its vertices, with squares. Covering with similar rectangles (having a given x/y ratio) is an equivalent problem.