Method and system for producing dynamic property forms and compacting property databases

A system for creating a design schematic for an integrated circuit using a schematic design tool, the system comprising:

• a single cell library including a single parameter database wherein the single parameter database includes base level component description format parameter data to provide all information for a property form user interface to display one or more labels and one or more base level component description format parameter values for a plurality of logic gates and wherein the single parameter database allows the schematic containing at least one of the logic gates to be automatically created in each one of a plurality of design modes;
• wherein a first one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of one single drive strength for only one type of device that forms the plurality of logic gates, wherein a second one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of drive strengths for two types of devices that form the plurality of logic gates, and wherein a third one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of a plurality of parameters of all types of the devices that form the plurality of logic gates;
• and
• a user interface allowing a user to specify one of the plurality of design modes such that when the user specifies one of the design modes for one the logic gates the user interface is automatically updated to display the base level component description format parameters from the parameter database for the design mode.

A method of producing a schematic of an integrated circuit using a computer-aided design apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a logic gate selection for a logic gate to be placed on the schematic wherein the logic gate selection is received by a single cell library including a single parameter database wherein the single parameter database includes base level component description format parameter data to provide all information for a property form to display one, or more labels and one or more base level component description format parameter values for a plurality of logic gates, and wherein the parameter database allows the schematic containing at least one of the logic gates to be automatically created in each one of a plurality of design modes;
• receiving a design made selection for one of the plurality of design modes, wherein a first one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of one single drive strength for only one, type of device that forms the plurality of logic gates wherein a second one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of drive strengths for two types of devices that form the plurality of logic gates, and wherein a third one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of topic gates in terms of a plurality of parameters of all types of the devices that form the plurality of logic gates;
• providing a property form having one or more base level component description format parameters for the logic gate and the design mode wherein the base level component description format parameters displayed on the property form for each one of the design modes are obtained from the single parameter database;
• and
• placing at least one of the plurality of logic gates on the schematic.

A method of generating a property form having one or more parameter labels and one or more parameter values for a logic gate used in a schematic for an integrated circuit that is being designed using a computer-aided design apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a single cell library including a single parameter database wherein the single parameter database includes base level component description format parameter data to provide all information for a properly form user interlace to display one or more labels and one or more base level component description format parameter values for a plurality of logic gates and wherein the single parameter database allows the schematic containing at least one of the logic gates to be automatically created in each one of the plurality of design modes;
• receiving a mode indicator indicating one of a plurality of design modes wherein a first one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of one single drive strength for only one type of device that forms the plurality of logic gates, wherein a second one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter vales for the plurality of logic gates in terms of drive strengths for two types of devices that form the plurality of logic gates, and wherein a third one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of a plurality of parameters of all types of the devices that form the plurality of logic gates;
• accessing the single parameter database by a user interfaces;
• transforming the parameter labels and the parameter values to form at least one of the plurality of logic gates in response to the mode indicator received;
• and
• automatically displaying the base level component description format parameter labels and the base level component description format parameter values in response to the mode indicated for a current instance of at least one of the logic.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for producing a schematic of an integrated circuit in a plurality of design modes using a computer-aided design apparatus, the computer-executable components comprising:

• a design tool component for creating a schematic of an integrated circuit;
• and
• a single cell library component including a single parameter database component wherein the single parameter database includes base level component description format parameter data to provide all information for a property form user interface to display one or more labels and one or more base level component description format parameter values for a plurality of logic gates and wherein the single parameter database component allows the schematic containing at least one of the logic gates to be automatically created in of the plurality of design modes using the design tool component
• wherein a first one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of one single drive strength for only one type of device that forms the plurality of logic gates, wherein a second one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of drive strengths for two types of devices that form the plurality of logic gates and wherein a third of logic gates in terms of a plurality of parameters of all types of the devices that form the plurality of logic gates.

A display device having rendered thereon a property form for producing a logic gate in a schematic of a integrated circuit in one of a plurality of design modes using a computer-aided design apparatus, comprising:

• a single cell library including a single parameter database wherein the single parameter database includes base level component description format parameter data to provide all information for a property form user interface to display one or more labels and one or more base level component description format parameter values for a plurality of logic gates and wherein the single parameter database allows the schematic containing at least one of the logic gates to be automatically created in each one of the plurality of design modes;
• and
• user interface allowing a user to specify one of the plurality of design nodes such that when the user specifies one of the design modes for one of the logic gates the user interface is automatically updated to display the base level component description format parameters from the single parameter database for the design mode, wherein the user interface further comprises:
• a first region having data produced by a schematic design program, and
• a second region of the property form having labels aid values for parameters wherein the labels and values depend on the one of the plurality of design modes specified by a user wherein a first one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of one single drive strength for only one type of device that forms the plurality of logic gates, wherein a second one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels and the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of drive strengths for two types of devices that form the plurality of logic gates and wherein a third one of the plurality of design modes provides the labels end the parameter values for the plurality of logic gates in terms of a plurality of parameters of all types of the devices that form the plurality of logic gates.