Method for producing a layout of element portions for a semiconductor integrated circuit using a computer

A method for producing a layout of circuit elements for a semiconductor integrated circuit on the basis of inputted circuit configuration data which represent kind, attribute data and location of each circuit element to be included in said semiconductor integrated circuit, using a computer programmed to perform the steps of:

• (a) establishing a vertical length of said circuit elements in accordance with input circuit configuration data;
• (b) detecting a circuit element whose obtained vertical length exceeds a predetermined value;
• (c) producing a first block with full vertical length in response to detection of step (b);
• (d) forming a plurality of vertically extending sections of said circuit and defining a boundary between two consecutive sections in accordance with a horizontal position of said circuit element detected in step (b);
• (e) producing a set of second blocks for arranging said circuit elements belonging to said each section other than sections including said circuit element detected in step (b), and
• arranging said second blocks side by side in the vertical direction such that one or more blocks include circuit elements to be directly connected to a common line in said semiconductor integrated circuit;
• (f) obtaining a total area of each kind of circuit element in each of said blocks, and
• selecting an area of each circuit element in accordance with said kind of and said attribute data of said each circuit element;
• (g) determining a kind of circuit element to be arranged in each of said blocks in accordance with said total area obtained in connection with said each kind;
• (h) detecting at least one circuit element different from the determined kind of said circuit element in each of said blocks if any;
• (i) transferring the detected different kind of circuit element from said each block to a block including the same kind of said circuit element arranged therein;
• and
• (j) for each of said blocks arranging said circuit elements determined after said step of transferring so that each circuit element is located at a suitable position in accordance with said location data of said circuit elements to produce said layout.