Patent · US Expired

Object placement aid

US5535134A · kind A · utility

83Cited by
38References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 3, 1994
Grant dateJul 9, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 3, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2111/04
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An existing layout is modified to ensure compliance with design rules and any user-defined rules by deriving a horizontal constraint model and a vertical constraint model. For each of the vertical and horizontal orientations in turn, violations of the rules are identified. For each orientation in turn, the violations are removed in such a way that objects in the layout are moved the least amount necessary. A given object may also be inserted into an existing layout in such a way that perturbation of objects in the existing layout is minimized by exploring solutions allowing for object merger and non-merger solutions and choosing the best one based on predetermined criteria. Given a group of objects, a layout may also be created in such a way that successive objects are placed to minimize movement of objects already placed. Placement of an object in an existing layout may also be improved by removing the object and inserting it as if it were a new object a number of times until no further improvement is noted in its placement.

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