Integrated circuits, and design and manufacture thereof
AssigneeLSI Logic Corporation
InventorsStefan Auracher, Claus Pribbernow, Andreas Hils
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A representation of a macro for an integrated circuit layout. The representation may define sub-circuit cells of a module. The module may have a predefined functionality. The sub-circuit cells may include at least one reusable circuit cell. The reusable circuit cell may be configured such that when the predefined functionality of the module is not used, the reusable circuit cell is available for re-use.
Claims24
A representation of a macro for an integrated circuit layout comprising:
- a plurality of diffusion regions;
- a metal layer connected to said diffusion regions;
- and
- at least one interconnection layer above said metal layer, wherein (i) said diffusion regions and said metal layer form a plurality of sub-circuit cells of a first module, (ii) said at least one interconnection layer connects at least two of said sub-circuit cells in accordance with said macro to complete said first module having a predefined functionality, and (iii) said sub-circuit cells include at least one reusable circuit cell configured with a plurality of signal terminals such that when said predefined functionality of said module is not used in a custom design, said reusable circuit cell is connected to at least one second module through said terminals by said at least one interconnection layer in said custom design.
A computer based design tool for generating a design representation of a macro for inclusion in an integrated circuit layout, the macro having a predefined functionality and comprising (i) a plurality of diffusion regions and (ii) a metal layer connected to said diffusion regions to form a plurality of sub-circuit cells and (iii) at least one interconnection layer above said metal layer to connect at least two of said sub-circuit cells to form a first module in accordance with said macro, wherein the tool is configured to:
- generate said design representation of said macro such that at least one of said sub-circuit cells is a reusable sub-circuit cell having a plurality of signal terminals that are (i) connectable to at least one second module through said at least one interconnection layer in a custom design when said predefined functionality of said first module is not used in said custom design and (ii) connected internal to said first module when said predefined functionality is used in said custom design.
A computer based design tool for automatically designing a physical routing of conductive paths across a predesigned integrated circuit slice, wherein the tool is configured to route one of more of said conductive paths over an area of a circuit module having a predefined functionality, the routing comprising the steps of:
- (a) identifying a reusable circuit cell of said circuit module that is (i) usable within said circuit module as part of said predefined functionality and (ii) reusable as a first repeater cell;
- (b) placing a first connection path extending over a first portion of said area from outside said area to a terminal of said first repeater cell when said predefined functionality is unused in a custom design on said predesigned integrated circuit slice;
- and
- (c) placing a second connection path according to a macro defining said circuit module, said second connection path extending over a second portion of said area from inside said area to said terminal when said predefined functionality is used in said custom design on said predesigned integrated circuit slice.
A method for designing a macro for a first module included in an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:
- (A) generating a design representation of said macro to (i) provide a predefined functionality in said first module, (ii) comprise a plurality of diffusion regions and a metal layer connected to said diffusion regions to form a plurality of sub-circuit circuit cells and (iii) further comprise at least one interconnection layer configured to connect at least two of said sub-circuit cells to form said first module when a custom design uses said predefined functionality;
- and
- (B) configuring at least one of said sub-circuit cells as one of (i) part of said predefined functionality when said predefined functionality is used in said custom design and (ii) a reusable sub-circuit cell connected external to said first module when said predefined functionality is not used in said custom design.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.