# US 2014/0157221 A1 · Techniques for routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157221 A1 - Document ID: US20140157221A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,209 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: SVEN PEYER; MATTHIAS RINGE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157221A1 ## CPC - G06F 30/394: Routing (G06F30/396 takes precedence) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the signal wire between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the shield wires between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the signal wire between the first and second endpoints and a length of the shield wires between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the route cost is based on an area associated with the signal wire between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal wire is configured to carry a clock signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the existing power supply shapes are part of an existing power mesh that is coupled to at least one of a first power supply node and a second power supply node. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the signal wire between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the shield wires between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the signal wire between the first and second endpoints and a length of the shield wires between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the route cost is based on an area associated with the signal wire between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the signal wire is configured to carry a clock signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the existing power supply shapes are part of an existing power mesh that is coupled to at least one of a first power supply node and a second power supply node. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the signal wire between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the shield wires between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the route cost is based on a length of the signal wire between the first and second endpoints and a length of the shield wires between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the route cost is based on an area associated with the signal wire between the first and second endpoints. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the signal wire is configured to carry a clock signal, and wherein the existing power supply shapes are part of an existing power mesh that is coupled to at least one of a first power supply node and a second power supply node.