Layout symmetry constraint checking method and layout symmetry constraint checking apparatus

A method for checking symmetry of a placement of elements included in a circuit, comprising:

• a layout symmetry constraint inputting step of inputting a layout symmetry constraint including information about a symmetrical element pair of two elements which should be placed symmetrical with respect to a center graphic;
• a layout data inputting step of inputting layout data including information about shapes of the elements and information about the placement of the elements;
• an element displaying step of displaying the placement of the elements based on the layout data;
• a designating step of designating the center graphic defined in the layout symmetry constraint;
• a center graphic displaying step of displaying the designated center graphic and the placement of the elements, wherein the designated center graphic and the placement of the elements are superposed together;
• a first checking step of checking whether or not the shapes of the elements constituting the symmetrical element pair match, based on the element shape information included in the layout data;
• and
• a second checking step of checking whether or not a geometric placement of all elements included in the layout symmetry constraint satisfies symmetry with respect to the center graphic.

An apparatus for checking symmetry of a placement of elements included in a circuit, comprising:

• layout symmetry constraint inputting means of inputting a layout symmetry constraint including information about a symmetrical element pair of two elements which should be placed symmetrical;
• layout data inputting means of inputting layout data including information about shapes of the elements and information about the placement of the elements;
• first checking means of checking whether or not the shapes of the elements constituting the symmetrical element pair match, based on the element shape information included in the layout data;
• and
• second checking means of obtaining a relative positional relationship between the elements based on the element placement information included in the layout data, and checking whether or not the relative positional relationship satisfies the layout symmetry constraint.

An apparatus for checking symmetry of a placement of elements included in a circuit, comprising:

• layout symmetry constraint inputting means of inputting a layout symmetry constraint including information about a symmetrical element pair of two elements which should be placed symmetrical with respect to a center graphic;
• layout data inputting means of inputting layout data including information about shapes of the elements and information about the placement of the elements;
• element displaying means of displaying the placement of the elements based on the layout data;
• designating means of designating the center graphic defined in the layout symmetry constraint;
• center graphic displaying means of displaying the designated center graphic and the placement of the elements, wherein the designated center graphic and the placement of the elements are superposed together;
• first checking means of checking whether or not the shapes of the elements constituting the symmetrical element pair match, based on the element shape information included in the layout data;
• and
• second checking means of checking whether or not a geometric placement of all elements included in the layout symmetry constraint satisfies symmetry with respect to the center graphic.