US6957410B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for adaptively selecting the wiring model for a design region
Assignee: Cadence Design Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2001-10-19
•
Granted: 2005-10-18
•
Expires: 2021-10-19
Abstract
Abstract Some embodiments provide a method of routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit layout. This method initially identifies a characteristic of the region, and then selects a wiring model from a set of wiring models, based on the identified characteristic. Each wiring models specifies a set of routing directions. The method then routes the nets based on the selected wiring model.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Teig
- 👤 Oscar Buset
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/39; G06F30/394; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/08; G11B7/085; G11B7/0857; G11B7/08582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the layout has a plurality of wiring layers, the method comprising: a) identifying a characteristic of the region; and b) based on the identified characteristic, selecting a wiring model from a set of wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifies a wiring direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein one of the wiring models specifies at least one wiring direction that is diagonal with respect to the layout's coordinate axes, wherein one wiring model specifies a wiring direction for a particular wiring layer in the region that is not available as a wiring direction on any wiring layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the layout has a plurality of wiring layers, the method comprising: a) identifying a characteristic of the region; and b) based on the identified characteristic, selecting a wiring model from a set of wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifies a wiring direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein one of the wiring models specifies at least one wiring direction that is diagonal with respect to the layout's coordinate axes, wherein one wiring model specifies a wiring direction for a particular wiring layer in the region that is not available as a wiring direction on any wiring layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each wiring model further specifies a metal layer for each specified wiring direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic is the aspect ratio of the region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein identifying the aspect ratio includes calculating the aspect ratio by using the dimensions of the region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the wiring models only specifics Manhattan wiring directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the wiring models specifies Manhattan and diagonal wiring directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the diagonal directions are ±45° directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein another of the wiring models specifies Manhattan and ±120° diagonal wiring directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the diagonal directions are ±120° directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: a) selecting a set of congestion grids based on the selected wiring model; and b) measuring the congestion of routes for the nets within the IC region based on the selected congestion grid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: a) based on the selected wiring model, selecting a partitioning grid for partitioning the IC region into a plurality of sub-regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: a) selecting a set of congestion grids based on the selected wiring model; and b) measuring the congestion of routes for the nets within the IC region based on the selected congestion grid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: a) routing the net in the region based on the selected wiring model.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
146 words
A computer readable medium comprising a computer program having executable code, the computer program for routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the layout has a plurality of wiring layer, the computer program comprising: a) a first set of instructions for identifying a characteristic of the region; and b) a second set of instructions for selecting, based on the identified characteristic, a wiring model from a set of wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifics a wiring direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein one of the wiring models specifies at least one wiring direction that is diagonal with respect to the layout's coordinate axes, wherein one wiring model specifies a wiring direction for a particular wiring layer in the region that is not available as a wiring direction on any wiring layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
146 words
A computer readable medium comprising a computer program having executable code, the computer program for routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the layout has a plurality of wiring layer, the computer program comprising: a) a first set of instructions for identifying a characteristic of the region; and b) a second set of instructions for selecting, based on the identified characteristic, a wiring model from a set of wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifics a wiring direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein one of the wiring models specifies at least one wiring direction that is diagonal with respect to the layout's coordinate axes, wherein one wiring model specifies a wiring direction for a particular wiring layer in the region that is not available as a wiring direction on any wiring layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein each wiring model further specifies a metal layer for each specified direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the characteristic is the aspect ratio of the region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the second set of instructions includes a third set of instructions for calculating the aspect ratio by using the dimensions of the region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising: a) a third set of instructions for selecting a set of congestion grids based on the selected wiring model; b) a fourth set of instructions for measuring the congestion of routes for the nets within the IC region based on the selected congestion grid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising: a) a third set of instructions for selecting, based on the selected wiring model, a partitioning grid for partitioning the IC region into a plurality of sub-regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising: a) a fourth set of instructions for selecting a set of congestion grids based on the selected wiring model; and b) a fifth set of instructions for measuring the congestion of routes for the nets within the IC region based on the selected congestion grid.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of routing nets in a region of an integrate-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the layout has a plurality of wiring layers, the method comprising: a) identifying a characteristic of the region; b) based on the identified characteristic, selecting a wiring model from set of at least two wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifies one preferred routing direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein at least one preferred routing direction in one wiring model is not a preferred routing direction in any layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of routing nets in a region of an integrate-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the layout has a plurality of wiring layers, the method comprising: a) identifying a characteristic of the region; b) based on the identified characteristic, selecting a wiring model from set of at least two wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifies one preferred routing direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein at least one preferred routing direction in one wiring model is not a preferred routing direction in any layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each wiring model further specifies a metal layer for each specified preferred routing direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the characteristic is the aspect ratio of the region.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein one of the wiring models specifies Manhattan and diagonal preferred routing directions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising: a) selecting a set of congestion grids based on the selected wiring model; and b) measuring the congestion of routes for the nets within the IC region based on the selected congestion grid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising: a) based on the selected wiring model, selecting a partitioning grid for partitioning the IC region into a plurality of sub-regions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer readable medium comprising a computer program having executable code, the computer program for routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the region has a plurality of wiring layers, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for: a) identifying a characteristic of the region; b) based on the identified characteristic, selecting a wiring model from a set of at least two wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifies one preferred routing direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein at least one preferred routing direction in one wiring model is not a preferred routing direction in any layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer readable medium comprising a computer program having executable code, the computer program for routing nets in a region of an integrated-circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein the region has a plurality of wiring layers, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for: a) identifying a characteristic of the region; b) based on the identified characteristic, selecting a wiring model from a set of at least two wiring models, wherein each wiring model specifies one preferred routing direction for each wiring layer in the region, wherein at least one preferred routing direction in one wiring model is not a preferred routing direction in any layer of at least one other wiring model.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer readable medium of claim 27 , wherein each wiring model further specifies a metal layer for each specified preferred routing direction.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the characteristic is the aspect ratio of the region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium of claim 27 , wherein one of the wiring models specifies Manhattan and diagonal preferred routing directions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising instructions for: a) selecting a set of congestion grids based on the selected wiring model; and b) measuring the congestion of routes for the nets within the IC region based on the selected congestion grid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising instructions for: a) based on the selected wiring model, selecting a partitioning grid for partitioning the IC region into a plurality of sub-regions.
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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) | 2008-10-17 | 2009-04-18 | 2009-10-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-10-17 | 2013-04-18 | 2013-10-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-10-17 | 2017-04-18 | 2017-10-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |