Area and/or power optimization through post-layout modification of integrated circuit (IC) design blocks

A system comprising:

• a memory storing an integrated circuit design comprising multiple instances of a design block, each of the multiple instances of the design block at different locations within an integrated circuit,
• wherein each of the multiple instances of the design block comprises at least one modifiable periphery section adjacent to a periphery of the design block and a primary input,
• wherein primary inputs of the multiple instances of the design block are connected by corresponding data signal pathways, respectively, to logic for receiving a signal, and
• wherein, due to the different locations, at least some of the corresponding data signal pathways are configured differently;
• and,
• at least one processor in communication with the memory,
• the processor accessing the integrated circuit design and determining arrival times of the signal at the primary inputs of all of the multiple instances of the design block, respectively,
• the processor further modifying the modifiable periphery section of each specific instance of the design block having an arrival time equal to or less than a preselected threshold arrival time in order to generate an updated integrated circuit design, and
• the modifying being performed by the processor to reduce any of power consumption by the specific instance of the design block and an area of the specific instance of the design block, and
• the modifying comprising performing any of the following with respect to at least one device within the modifiable periphery section of the specific instance of the design block:
• bypassing;
• restructuring by changing device type;
• and,
• restructuring by changing device size;
• and
• the processor further generating a final integrated circuit design layout after the modifying, the final integrated circuit design layout being at least one of area-optimized and power-optimized and further being used for manufacturing integrated circuits.

A computer program product for integrated circuit design, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon, the program instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

• accessing, from a memory, an integrated circuit design comprising multiple instances of a design block at different locations within an integrated circuit,
• wherein each of the multiple instances of the design block comprises at least one modifiable periphery section adjacent to a periphery of the design block and a primary input,
• wherein primary inputs of the multiple instances of the design block are connected by corresponding data signal pathways, respectively, to logic for receiving a signal, and
• wherein, due to the different locations, at least some of the corresponding data signal pathways are configured differently;
• determining arrival times of the signal at the primary inputs of all of the multiple instances of the design block, respectively;
• modifying the modifiable periphery section of each specific instance of the design block having an arrival time equal to or less than a preselected threshold arrival time in order to generate an updated integrated circuit design,
• the modifying being performed to reduce any of power consumption by the specific instance of the design block and an area of the specific instance of the design block, and
• the modifying comprising performing any of the following with respect to at least one device within the modifiable periphery section of the specific instance of the design block:
• bypassing;
• restructuring by changing device type;
• and,
• restructuring by changing device size;
• and
• after the modifying, generating a final integrated circuit design layout, the final integrated circuit design layout being at least one of area-optimized and power-optimized and further being used for manufacturing integrated circuits.