Access cell design and a method for enabling automatic insertion of access cells into an integrated circuit design
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsClive Alva Barney, Scott Ryan Grange
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An access cell for routing current from a first cell to a second cell includes a first current path coupled to a second current path via a third current path. The third current path includes a set of three legs configured in a manner such that a first of the three legs may be severed in half to interrupt current flow between the first current path and the second current path, leaving the other two legs of the third current path intact. Either half of the first leg includes a connection point at which a spare cell may be coupled to the access cell to enable current flow between the spare cell and either the first cell or the second cell.
Claims13
An access cell for an integrated circuit having a current pathway disposed therein for routing current through said access cell, said current pathway comprising:
- a first current path disposed lengthwise in said access cell;
- a second current path disposed lengthwise in said access cell;
- and
- a third current path disposed between said first current path and said second current path, said third current path having a set of three legs;
- a first of said legs being disposed generally parallel to said first and said second current paths;
- a second of said legs connecting said first current path to said first leg;
- and,
- a third of said legs connecting said first leg to said second current path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.