Patent · US Expired

Structured design method for generating a mesh power bus structure in high density layout of VLSI chips

US4811237A · kind A · utility

125Cited by
14References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 24, 1987
Grant dateMar 7, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 24, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/394
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An automated LSI chip layout arrangement includes automated layout of the power bus distribution network. A complete interlocking mesh of buses is run in routing channels lying between groups of circuits to be powered. Each segment of the mesh powering net which affects the chip size is tested to see if it can be removed without adversely affecting the power distribution. If it can be removed, the segment is deleted. The next segment which is critical to the size of the chip is then tested, and the process is continued. Those segments of the power bus distribution network which do not affect the size of the chip are not eliminated. Thus, a low-resistance power distribution bus network is guaranteed, and chip size is minimized.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.