Method for handling variable width wires in a grid-based channel router
US5793643A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F30/394
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a grid-based channel router, a method for handling variable width wires. The user initially specifies the widths of the wires. In this manner, wider wires may be selected for special nets, such as those used for routing clock signals, whereas narrower wires are used for normal nets in order to minimize the die size. A refined grid map is generated. This refined grid map consists of extra rows and columns for marking the variable width wires. These extra rows and columns are spaced as a function of the wire width and are marked the same as with normal rows and columns. Before a wire is placed, the affected rows or columns are checked for any violations. If there are no violations, the wire is placed and the appropriate rows or columns are marked. Due to the extra rows and columns, the problems associated with overmarking and undermarking variable width wires are avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.