Method and apparatus for providing multiple electronic design solutions
AssigneeMonterey Design Systems, Inc.
InventorsYaacov (Jacob) Greidinger, Ara Markosian, Jon Frankle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic computer aided design system provides for automated operation of a plurality of design tools to produce multiply design solutions to an initial circuit layout. Through the user entry of relative weights for: power, timing and area, different solutions to an initial layout can be generated exhibiting the requested balance of improvements over the original layout. A novel parts placement process is disclosed which prioritizes the reconfiguration of the initial design in a manner which assures that the multiple solutions will be generated which exhibit improved performance over the original layout in accordance with the priorities established by the user.
Claims31
A method for generating multiple new solutions to an initial layout of cells, comprising the steps of:
- identifying a set of critical paths in said initial layout, each critical path includes adjacent cells which are too close together;
- identifying a set of critical cuts, each critical cut severing each of said critical paths;
- and
- creating said new solutions, each new solution corresponds to one of said critical cuts, each new solution is created by removing and replacing at least one cell from each critical path based on said corresponding critical cut, each new solution provides a new layout of cells and differs from said initial layout in relative placement of cells.
One or more processor readable storage devices for storing processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for generating multiple new solutions to an initial layout of cells, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying critical paths in said initial layout, each critical path includes adjacent cells which are too close together;
- identifying a set of critical cuts, each critical cut severing each of said critical paths;
- and
- creating said new solutions, each new solution corresponds to one of said critical cuts, each new solution is created by removing and replacing at least one cell from each critical path based on said corresponding critical cut, each new solution provides a new layout of cells and differs from said initial layout in relative placement of cells.
An apparatus used for generating multiple new solutions to an initial layout of cells, comprising:
- an interface;
- a storage device;
- and
- a processor in communication with said interface and said storage device, said process performs a method comprising the steps of:
- identifying critical paths in said initial layout, each critical path includes adjacent cells which are too close together,
- identifying a set of critical cuts, each critical cut severing each of said critical paths, and
- creating said new solutions, each new solution corresponds to one of said critical cuts, each new solution is created by removing and replacing at least one cell from each critical path based on said corresponding critical cut, each new solution provides a new layout of cells and differs from said initial layout in relative placement of cells.
A method for generating multiple new solutions to an initial layout of cells, each new solution provides a new layout of cells and differs from said initial layout in relative placement of cells, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a set of relative weights for target parameters;
- creating a first set of new solutions, each new solution in said first set is created by removing and replacing cells from said initial layout;
- ranking said first set of new solutions according to said set of relative weights;
- determining a highest ranked solution from said first set of new solutions;
- and
- creating a second set of new solutions each new solution in said second set is created by removing and replacing cells from said highest ranked solution from said first set of new solutions.
One or more processor readable storage devices for storing processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for generating multiple new solutions to an initial layout of cells, each new solution provides a new layout of cells and differs from said initial layout in relative placement of cells, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a set of relative weights for target parameters;
- creating a first set of new solutions, each new solution in said first set is created by removing and replacing cells from said initial layout;
- ranking said first set of new solutions according to said set of relative weights;
- determining a highest ranked solution from said first set of new solutions;
- and
- creating a second set of new solutions, each new solution in said second set is created by removing and replacing cells from said highest ranked solution from said first set of new solutions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.