Integrated circuit design and manufacturing method and an apparatus for designing an integrated circuit in accordance with the method
US5689432A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F30/39
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for designing an integrated circuit involves a four step process. First, a behavioral circuit model (BCM) is read which contains assignment statements which identify the logical operation of an integrated circuit (IC). The BCM is translated to a data file which described a plurality of interconnected logic gate functions to duplicate the operation of the BCM. The gates in the data file are then assigned a specific Vdd and ground rail size, a specific drive strength for speed considerations, and a cell pitch or height to optimize physical layout, in any order. The result in a physical design file which may be used to form masks and integrated circuits having optimized speed and optimized circuit area in a short design cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.