US 6,539,531 B2 · Method of designing, fabricating, testing and interconnecting an IC to external circuit nodes

Abstract

A method for designing integrated circuits (ICs) and their interconnect systems includes IC component cells and interconnect component cells in a cell library. Each IC component cell provides both a physical and behavioral model of a component that may be incorporated into the IC while each interconnect component cell includes both a physical and behavioral model of a separate internal or external component of an interconnect system that may link the IC to external nodes. Both the IC and its interconnect systems are designed by selecting and specifying interconnections between component cells included in the cell library. Interconnect systems are flexibily designed to act like filters tuned to optimize desired frequency response characteristics. Behavior models of the IC and its interconnect systems, based on the behavior models of their selected component, are subjected to simulation and verification tools to determine whether the IC and its interconnect systems meet various performance criteria and constraints. The structural models of the interconnect systems developed during the design process guide subsequent fabrication of interconnect systems for both the IC's intended testing and operating environments.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for designing, fabricating, testing and interconnecting an integrated circuit (IC) to external circuit nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a cell library including a plurality of component cells and a plurality of interconnect component cells,
wherein each component cell corresponds to a separate IC component, and includes a structural model and a behavior model of its corresponding IC component, the structural model describing a layout of the corresponding IC component within the IC,
wherein each interconnect component cell corresponds to a separate component of an interconnect system forming a signal path between at least one internal circuit node of the IC and at least one external circuit node, wherein each interconnect component cell includes structural and behavioral models of its corresponding interconnect system component,
wherein at least one of said interconnect component cells corresponds to a interconnect system component that is external to said IC, wherein the structural model of each interconnect component residing within the IC describes its layout within the IC;
and
b. selecting IC components to be included in said IC and selecting components of a plurality of interconnect systems to provide signal paths between said IC and an external circuit node by selecting corresponding ones of said plurality of component cells and interconnect component cells.

3 more elements

A method for designing an integrated circuit (IC) having a plurality of terminals for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from external circuits and for designing a plurality of interconnect systems, each providing a complete signal path between one of said terminals and a circuit node external to said IC, the method comprising the steps of:

a. generating a hardware description language (HDL) description of the IC and said plurality of interconnect systems and descriptions of performance criteria and constraints for the IC and for the plurality of interconnect systems;
b. providing a cell library including IC component cells and interconnect component cells, wherein each IC component cell provides both a physical and behavioral model of a component that may be incorporated into the IC, wherein each interconnect component cell includes both a physical and behavioral model of a separate component of said interconnect systems, including components both internal and external to the IC;
c. employing synthesis tools to process said HDL description thereby producing a netlist design of said IC and said plurality of interconnect systems by selecting IC and interconnect component cells included in the cell library and by specifying a manner in which corresponding IC and interconnect system components are to be connected to one another.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of designing, fabricating, testing and interconnecting an IC to external circuit nodes

Life of this patent

Method of designing, fabricating, testing and interconnecting an IC to external circuit nodes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29