US6205572B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buffering tree analysis in mapped design
Assignee: Bell Semiconductor LLC
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Filing: 1998-02-20
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2018-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design comprising the steps of determining source pins of the nets of the buffering tree, determining fanout of each of said source pins, determining active edges and active levels of each of said source pins, and presenting said source pins, said fanout, and said active edge on a report.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy Dupenloup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/32; G06F30/327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, said method comprising the steps of: determining a root pin of the buffering tree; determining leaf pins of the buffering tree; determining fanout of said root pin; determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and presenting said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, said method comprising the steps of: determining a root pin of the buffering tree; determining leaf pins of the buffering tree; determining fanout of said root pin; determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and presenting said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said root pin provides a clock signal to the net.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining root pins of the nets comprises the steps of: setting driving pin to the pin that drives the net; and selecting the pin as the driving pin if the pin is an input port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining fanout of said root pin comprises the steps of: recursively determining fanout of an input pin of an hierarchical cell; and incrementing fanout by one for a non-hierarchical cell pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins comprises the step of determining pin polarity of each of the leaf pins depending upon pin polarity of driving pin of the net to which said leaf pins is a member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said IC design is a fully mapped design.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said IC design is a partially mapped design.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein fanout of said root pin is determined as the total number of pins receiving a signal provided by said root pin, irrespective of buffering.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, comprising: a processor; memory connected to said processor; said memory having instructions for said processor to determine the root pin of the buffering tree; determine the leaf pins of the buffering tree; determine the fanout of the root pin; determine active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and present said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, comprising: a processor; memory connected to said processor; said memory having instructions for said processor to determine the root pin of the buffering tree; determine the leaf pins of the buffering tree; determine the fanout of the root pin; determine active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and present said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said IC design is a partially mapped design.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein fanout of said root pin is determined as the total number of pins receiving a signal provided by said root pin, irrespective of buffering.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said IC design is a fully mapped design.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, comprising: means for determining the root pin of the buffering tree; means for determining the leaf pins of the buffering tree; means for determining the fanout of the root pin; means for determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and presenting said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, comprising: means for determining the root pin of the buffering tree; means for determining the leaf pins of the buffering tree; means for determining the fanout of the root pin; means for determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and presenting said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer system according to claim 13 , wherein said IC design is a fully mapped design.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer system according to claim 13 , wherein said IC design is a partially mapped design.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer storage medium containing instructions for determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, said instructions comprising the steps of: determining the root pin of the buffering tree; determining the leaf pins of the buffering tree; determining the fanout of the root pin; determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and presenting said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer storage medium containing instructions for determining circuit characteristics of buffering tree nets of an integrated circuit (IC) design, said instructions comprising the steps of: determining the root pin of the buffering tree; determining the leaf pins of the buffering tree; determining the fanout of the root pin; determining active edges and active levels of each of said leaf pins; and presenting said root pin, said fanout, said leafs and said active edges and active levels on a report.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer storage medium according to claim 16 , wherein said IC design is a partially mapped design.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer storage medium of claim 16 wherein said computer storage medium is selected from a group consisting of magnetic device, optical device, magneto-optical device, floppy diskette, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, computer hard drive, and memory card.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer storage medium according to claim 16 , wherein said IC design is a fully mapped design.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |