Methods and apparatus for defining Manhattan power grid structures beneficial to diagonal signal wiring

A power grid structure for an integrated circuit, the power grid structure having at least one design constraint that defines a minimum specification that the power grid structure must meet in order to be acceptable for use in the integrated circuit, the power grid structure comprising:

• a plurality of stripes, each stripe having a minimal width required for the power grid structure to meet the at least one design constraint, wherein each stripe comprises a first spacing width;
• a plurality of rails wherein each rail has a minimal width required for the power grid structure to meet the at least one design constraint, wherein each rail comprises a second spacing width, wherein the first spacing width is proportional to the second spacing width;
• and
• a plurality of vias that connect the plurality of stripes to the plurality of rails.

A power grid structure for an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first Manhattan layer and a second diagonal layer, the power grid structure having at least one design constraint that defines a minimum specification that the power grid structure must meet in order to be acceptable for use in the integrated circuit, the power grid structure comprising:

• a plurality of stripes, each stripe having a minimal width required for the power grid structure to meet the at least one design constraint;
• a plurality of rails;
• and
• a plurality of vias that connect the plurality of stripes to the plurality of rails, wherein the plurality of vias are positioned to (i) reduce Manhattan wiring blockage for the first Manhattan layer, and (ii) reduce diagonal wiring blockage for the second diagonal layer.

A method for defining a power grid structure for an integrated circuit, wherein the power grid structure is comprised of power grid structure components, the method comprising:

• defining a set of attributes for the power grid structure based on a set of design constraints;
• defining a set of routes for the power grid structure based on the set of attributes;
• verifying the set of attributes and the set of routes to determine whether the set of attributes and the set of routes meet the set of design constraints;
• and
• iteratively (i) defining the set of attributes, (ii) defining the set of routes, and (iii) verifying the set of attributes and the set of routes.

A computer readable medium storing a computer program for defining a power grid structure for an integrated circuit, wherein the power grid structure is comprised of power grid structure components, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising a set of instructions for:

• defining a set of attributes for the power grid structure based on a set of design constraints;
• defining a set of routes for the power grid structure based on the set of attributes;
• verifying the set of attributes and the set of routes to determine whether the set of attributes and the set of routes meet the set of design constraints;
• and
• iteratively (i) defining the set of attributes, (ii) defining the set of routes, and (iii) verifying the set of attributes and the set of routes.