Method of and apparatus for placing blocks in semiconductor integrated circuit

An apparatus for placing blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit for determining the placement of a plurality of blocks having different sizes, said apparatus comprising:

• input means for inputting necessary information;
• a layout specification storage unit for storing a layout specification necessary for determining the placement of the blocks;
• a central processing unit for executing processing which includes:
• setting an externally contacting frame for the plurality of blocks initially placed in such a manner as to eliminate overlapping between the blocks;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame of the plurality of blocks by a predetermined length in a first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame by a predetermined length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• and repeating the compression in the two directions until a target size is obtained;
• wherein when said overlapping has occurred at a plurality of portions, a total amount of overlapping is distributed to the overlapping portions in accordance with a ratio of sums of areas of respective two overlapping blocks, and each corresponding block is deformed by using the distributed amount of overlapping as a compression length;
• a layout information storage unit for storing layout information being processed by said central processing unit;
• a display for displaying a state of processing by said central processing unit;
• and
• output means for outputting information determined by said central processing unit.

An apparatus for placing blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit for determining the placement of a plurality of blocks having different sizes, said apparatus comprising:

• input means for inputting necessary information;
• a layout specification storage unit for storing a layout specification necessary for determining the placement of the blocks;
• a central processing unit for executing processing which includes:
• setting an externally contacting frame for the plurality of blocks initially placed in such a manner as to eliminate overlapping between the blocks;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame of the plurality of blocks by a predetermined length in a first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame by a predetermined length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• and repeating the compression in the two directions until a target size is obtained;
• wherein when said overlapping has occurred at plurality of portions, a total amount of overlapping is distributed to the overlapping portions in accordance with a ratio of sums of side lengths of respective two overlapping blocks, and each corresponding block is deformed by using the distributed amount of overlapping as a compression length;
• a layout information storage unit for storing layout information being processed by said central processing unit;
• a display for displaying a state of processing by said central processing unit;
• and
• output means for outputting information determined by said central processing unit.

The method of placing blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit for determining the placement of a plurality of blocks having different sizes, comprising the steps of:

• setting an externally contacting frame for the plurality of blocks initially placed in such a manner as to eliminate overlapping between the blocks;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame of the plurality of blocks by a predetermined length in a first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame by a predetermined length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• and
• repeating the compression in the two directions until a target size is obtained, wherein where said overlapping has occurred at a plurality of portions, a total amount of overlapping is distributed to the overlapping portions in accordance with a ratio of respective amounts of overlapping, and each corresponding block is deformed by using the distributed amount of overlapping as a compression length.

The method of placing blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit for determining the placement of a plurality of blocks having different sizes, comprising the steps of:

• setting an externally contacting frame for the plurality of blocks initially placed in such a manner as to eliminate overlapping between the blocks;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame of the plurality of blocks by a predetermined length in a first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame by a predetermined length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• and
• repeating the compression in the two directions until a target size is obtained, wherein where said overlapping has occurred at a plurality of portions, a total amount of overlapping is distributed to the overlapping portions in accordance with a ratio of sums of areas of respective two overlapping blocks, and each corresponding block is deformed by using the distributed amount of overlapping as a compression length.

The method of placing blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit for determining the placement of a plurality of blocks having different sizes, comprising the steps of:

• setting an externally contacting frame for the plurality of blocks initially placed in such a manner as to eliminate overlapping between the blocks;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame of the plurality of blocks by a predetermined length in a first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame by a predetermined length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• and
• repeating the compression in the two directions until a target size is obtained, wherein where said overlapping has occurred at a plurality of portions, a total amount of overlapping is distributed to the overlapping portions in accordance with a ratio of sums of side lengths of respective two overlapping blocks, and each corresponding block is deformed by using the distributed amount of overlapping as a compression length.

An apparatus for placing blocks in a semiconductor integrated circuit for determining the placement of a plurality of blocks having different sizes, said apparatus comprising:

• input means for inputting necessary information;
• a layout specification storage unit for storing a layout specification necessary for determining the placement of the blocks;
• a central processing unit for executing processing which includes:
• setting an externally contacting frame for the plurality of blocks initially placed in such a manner as to eliminate overlapping between the blocks;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame of the plurality of blocks by a predetermined length in a first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• moving the blocks by compressing the externally contacting frame by a predetermined length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and moving the blocks in which overlapping has consequently occurred, or deforming said blocks without changing their areas;
• and repeating the compression in the two directions until a target size is obtained;
• wherein when said overlapping has occurred at a plurality of portions, a total amount of overlapping is distributed to the overlapping portions in accordance with a ratio of respective amounts of overlapping, and each corresponding block is deformed by using the distributed amount of overlapping as a compression length;
• a layout information storage unit for storing layout information being processed by said central processing unit;
• a display for displaying a state of processing by said central processing unit;
• and
• output means for outputting information determined by said central processing unit.