Patent US6513197B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6327697B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6327697B1
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Method for routing conductive paths in an integrated circuit
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-28
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Granted: 2001-12-04
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Expires: 2019-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for routing conductive paths in an integrated circuit, each conductive path having a first pin and a second pin is described herein. The method includes separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, the connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path, ranking each group based upon how constrained each connection type is relative to each other connection type, choosing the group having the most constrained connection type which has not yet been routed, and routing each conductive path within the group chosen during the choosing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Pradiptya Ghosh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/39; G06F30/394; H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for routing conductive paths in an integrated circuit, each conductive path having a first pin and a second pin, the method comprising: separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, said connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path; ranking each group based upon how constrained each connection type is relative to each other connection type; choosing the group having the most constrained connection type which has not yet been routed; and routing each conductive path within the group chosen at said choosing operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for routing conductive paths in an integrated circuit, each conductive path having a first pin and a second pin, the method comprising: separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, said connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path; ranking each group based upon how constrained each connection type is relative to each other connection type; choosing the group having the most constrained connection type which has not yet been routed; and routing each conductive path within the group chosen at said choosing operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two fixed pins as more constrained than a connection type having at least one flex pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two fixed pins as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having at least one fixed pin as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of separating further comprises separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, said connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path and whether a track is commonly shared by said first and second pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having pins sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having pins which don't share a common track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two fixed pins sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having two fixed pins not sharing a common track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having a flex pin and a fixed pin sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having a flex pin and a fixed pin not sharing a common track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two flex pins not sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins sharing at least one common track.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two flex pins sharing less than two common tracks as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins sharing at least two common tracks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two flex pins sharing less than three common tracks as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins sharing at least three common tracks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ranking step ranks a connection type having two flex pins sharing less than four common tracks as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins sharing at least four common tracks.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for routing conductive paths in an integrated circuit, each conductive path having a first pin and a second pin, comprising: means for separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, said connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path; means for ranking each group based upon how constrained each connection type is relative to each other connection type; means for choosing the group having the most constrained connection type which has not yet been routed; and means for routing each conductive path within the group chosen at said choosing operation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for routing conductive paths in an integrated circuit, each conductive path having a first pin and a second pin, comprising: means for separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, said connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path; means for ranking each group based upon how constrained each connection type is relative to each other connection type; means for choosing the group having the most constrained connection type which has not yet been routed; and means for routing each conductive path within the group chosen at said choosing operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said ranking means ranks a connection type having two fixed pins as more constrained than a connection type having at least one flex pin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said ranking means ranks a connection type having two fixed pins a more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said ranking means ranks a connection type having at least one fixed pin as more constrained than a connection type having two flex pins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for separating further comprises means for separating at least two conductive paths into groups based on the connection type of each of said conductive paths, said connection type for a given conductive path being determined based on the types of pins at each end of the conductive path and whether a track is commonly shared by said first and second pins.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said ranking means ranks a connection type having pin sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having pins which don't share a common track.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said ranking means ranks a connection type having two fixed pins sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having two fixed pins not sharing a common track.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said ranking means ranks a connection type having a flex pin sharing a common track as more constrained than a connection type having a flex pin and a fixed pin not sharing a common track.
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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) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |