Techniques for routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsSVEN PEYER, MATTHIAS RINGE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique for routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design includes applying a first rule that attempts to route a signal wire along existing power supply shapes of the integrated circuit design and applying a second rule that provides shield wires along segments of the signal wire that are not routed along one of the existing power supply shapes. The technique also includes routing the signal wire between a first endpoint and a second endpoint while applying the first and second rules to substantially minimize a route cost for the signal wire between the first and second endpoints.
Claims20
A method of routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design, comprising:
- applying, using a data processing system, a first rule that attempts to route a signal wire along existing power supply shapes of the integrated circuit design, wherein the existing power supply shapes are designed to distribute power and are not designed to function as shields;
- applying, using the data processing system, a second rule that provides shield wires along segments of the signal wire that are not routed along one of the existing power supply shapes, wherein each of the shield wires are connected to one of the existing power supply shapes;
- and
- routing, using the data processing system, the signal wire between a first endpoint and a second endpoint while applying the first and second rules to substantially minimize a route cost for the signal wire between the first and second endpoints.
A computer program product for routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design, the computer program product comprising:
- a computer-readable storage device having computer-readable program code embodied thereon, wherein the computer-readable program code, when executed by a processor, configures the processor to:
- apply a first rule that attempts to route a signal wire along existing power supply shapes of the integrated circuit design, wherein the existing power supply shapes are designed to distribute power and are not designed to function as shields;
- apply a second rule that provides shield wires along segments of the signal wire that are not routed along one of the existing power supply shapes, wherein each of the shield wires are connected to one of the existing power supply shapes;
- and
- route the signal wire between a first endpoint and a second endpoint while applying the first and second rules to substantially minimize a route cost for the signal wire between the first and second endpoints.
A data processing system, comprising:
- a memory for storing code;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
- apply a first rule that attempts to route a signal wire along existing power supply shapes of the integrated circuit design, wherein the existing power supply shapes are designed to distribute power and are not designed to function as shields;
- apply a second rule that provides shield wires along segments of the signal wire that are not routed along one of the existing power supply shapes, wherein each of the shield wires are connected to one of the existing power supply shapes;
- and
- route the signal wire between a first endpoint and a second endpoint while applying the first and second rules to substantially minimize a route cost for the signal wire between the first and second endpoints.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.