US6446245B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing power routing in ASIC design
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 2000-01-05
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Granted: 2002-09-03
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Expires: 2020-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for performing power routing in ASIC design. Power routing is performed after cell placement, allowing more knowledgeable placement of power structures in the physical layout. By performing cell placement prior to power routing, standard cells are allowed to be placed in more optimal configurations. In one embodiment, power rings and power straps are placed over the top of the standard cells based on power analysis of the standard cell layout. Those regions of the layout where design violations are triggered are corrected by an incremental placement correction of affected cells. In another embodiment, cells are placed in the physical layout in a bottom-up hierarchical manner. When a given cell becomes large enough to require power routing, a power feed cell of sufficient dimension to support the necessary power strap is inserted into the layout during the placement process. In the subsequent power routing phase, power straps are placed over the power feed cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Zhaoyun Xing
- 👤 Russell Kao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/39; G06F30/394; G06F2119/00; G06F2119/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
In a computer system, a method comprising: performing placement of one or more standard cells to obtain a physical layout; and after said placement, routing one or more power resources across said physical layout, wherein routing said one or more power resources comprises analyzing power consumption of said physical layout to determine where said one or more power resources are to be routed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a computer system, a method comprising: performing placement of one or more standard cells to obtain a physical layout; and after said placement, routing one or more power resources across said physical layout, wherein routing said one or more power resources comprises analyzing power consumption of said physical layout to determine where said one or more power resources are to be routed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an incremental placement correction to correct one or more design rule violations associated with routing said one or more power resources.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein performing placement of said one or more standard cells further comprises inserting an empty cell in said physical layout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein inserting said empty cell further comprises determining if a current cell merits a power resource.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein routing said one or more power resources further comprises routing a power strap across said empty cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium having computer program code embodied therein for building a circuit, the computer readable medium comprising computer program code configured to cause a computer to: perform placement of one or more standard cells to obtain a physical layout; and after said placement, route one or more power resources across said physical layout, wherein routing said one or more power resources comprises analyzing power consumption of said physical layout to determine where said one or more power resources are to be routed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium having computer program code embodied therein for building a circuit, the computer readable medium comprising computer program code configured to cause a computer to: perform placement of one or more standard cells to obtain a physical layout; and after said placement, route one or more power resources across said physical layout, wherein routing said one or more power resources comprises analyzing power consumption of said physical layout to determine where said one or more power resources are to be routed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein said computer program code is further configured to perform an incremental placement correction to correct one or more design rule violations associated with routing said one or more power resources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein performing placement of said one or more standard cells further comprises inserting an empty cell in said physical layout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein inserting said empty cell further comprises determining if a current cell merits a power resource.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein routing said one or more power resources further comprises routing a power strap across said empty cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a computer system, an apparatus comprising: a processor; a process executing on said processor, said process configured to: obtain a physical layout through placement of one or more standard cells; analyze power consumption of said physical layout to determine where one or more power resources are to be routed; and route said one or more power resources across said physical layout after said placement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a computer system, an apparatus comprising: a processor; a process executing on said processor, said process configured to: obtain a physical layout through placement of one or more standard cells; analyze power consumption of said physical layout to determine where one or more power resources are to be routed; and route said one or more power resources across said physical layout after said placement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said process is further configured to perform an incremental placement correction to correct one or more design rule violations associated with routing said one or more power resources.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said process is further configured to insert an empty cell in said physical layout.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein inserting said empty cell further comprises determining if a current cell merits a power resource.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said process is further configured to route a power strap across said empty cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a computer system, an apparatus comprising: means for performing placement of one or more standard cells to obtain a physical layout; means for analyzing said physical layout to determine power routing requirements; and means for routing one or more power resources across said physical layout after said placement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a computer system, an apparatus comprising: means for performing placement of one or more standard cells to obtain a physical layout; means for analyzing said physical layout to determine power routing requirements; and means for routing one or more power resources across said physical layout after said placement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated circuit having elements defined by a physical layout, said integrated circuit comprising: one or more empty cells automatically inserted into said physical layout by a computer process, based on an analysis of power consumption of said physical layout; one or more power resources routed across said one or more empty cells.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated circuit having elements defined by a physical layout, said integrated circuit comprising: one or more empty cells automatically inserted into said physical layout by a computer process, based on an analysis of power consumption of said physical layout; one or more power resources routed across said one or more empty cells.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a computer system, a method comprising: performing placement of a plurality of cells to obtain a physical layout; after said placement: analyzing said physical layout to determine power routing requirements; routing one or more power resources across said physical layout in accordance with said power routing requirements; and incrementally translating one or more of said plurality of cells to correct one or more design rule violations associated with said one or more power resources.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a computer system, a method comprising: performing placement of a plurality of cells to obtain a physical layout; after said placement: analyzing said physical layout to determine power routing requirements; routing one or more power resources across said physical layout in accordance with said power routing requirements; and incrementally translating one or more of said plurality of cells to correct one or more design rule violations associated with said one or more power resources.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a computer system, a method comprising: performing placement of a plurality of cells in a current circuit module; determining if said current circuit module merits a power resource; if said current circuit module requires a power resource, inserting one or more substantially empty cells in said circuit module; after placement of a physical layout comprising said current circuit module, routing one or more power resources over said one or more substantially empty cells.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a computer system, a method comprising: performing placement of a plurality of cells in a current circuit module; determining if said current circuit module merits a power resource; if said current circuit module requires a power resource, inserting one or more substantially empty cells in said circuit module; after placement of a physical layout comprising said current circuit module, routing one or more power resources over said one or more substantially empty cells.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: placing a plurality of modules in said physical layout, wherein at least one substantially empty cell of a first module is aligned with at least one substantially empty cell of a second module.
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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) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |