Method of extracting block binders and an application in block placement for an integrated circuit

A method of block binder extraction and its application to block placement of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• automatically extracting the block binders before block placement based on an algorithm that analyzes a net-list of the integrated circuit;
• packing a plurality of blocks relative to one another to form a configuration of the block binder before block placement;
• preparing a net-list, wherein the net-list comprises a plurality of blocks and a block area for each of the blocks and further comprising dimensions of standard cells, wherein the net-list comprises a plurality of nodes, and wherein each node represents a module, and each edge represents a parent-child relationship between two modules;
• processing the nodes in net-list to determine or create candidate nodes for the block binder extraction, comprising:
• for each node determining if the node is a candidate node:
• merging several nodes under a new candidate node;
• storing candidate node data;
• skipping child nodes if a node is marked as a candidate;
• processing the nodes that are already marked as candidates for extraction, comprising:
• extracting the block binders by receiving the candidate nodes from the processing phase and creating a block binder for each candidate node;
• and
• differently extracting the candidate nodes based on master types.

A method of block binder extraction and its application to block placement of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• automatically extracting the block binders before block placement based on an algorithm that analyzes a net-list of the integrated circuit;
• packing a plurality of blocks relative to one another to form a configuration of the block binder before block placement;
• executing a block placement algorithm;
• and
• for some block binders executing default configurations;
• and
• for other block binders determining alterative configurations and storing the alterative configurations as the new default configurations.

A method of block binder extraction and its application to block placement of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• automatically extracting the block binders before block placement based on an algorithm that analyzes a net-list of the integrated circuit;
• packing a plurality of blocks relative to one another to form a configuration of the block binder before block placement;
• and
• allocating a placement-blocking shape in the integrated circuit for a predetermined space indicating that the blocks and block binders should not be placed at the predetermined space.

A method of block binder extraction and its application to block placement of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• automatically extracting the block binders before block placement based on an algorithm that analyzes a net-list of the integrated circuit;
• packing a plurality of blocks relative to one another to form a configuration of the block binder before block placement;
• determining that a block binder cannot be placed with a default configuration;
• and
• applying an alternative configuration of the block binder to place without overlapping to form a more integral core space for subsequent standard cell placements.

A method of block binder extraction and its application to block placement of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• automatically extracting the block binders before block placement based on an algorithm that analyzes a net-list of the integrated circuit;
• packing a plurality of blocks relative to one another to form a configuration of the block binder before block placement;
• respecting orientation constraints in block binder extraction and block placement;
• and
• respecting fixed status of some blocks in block placement and in block binder extraction by being free of including fixed blocks in extraction.