Method and apparatus for sizing buffers to provide minimal skew
US5798935A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F30/394
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a system for automatically generating tables of buffer data which can be used during integrated circuit design to select appropriate buffers for signal distribution networks. The generated buffer data may be used by automated place and route systems to generate signal distribution networks having minimal skew. In the table, incrementally varying network features or criteria are provided (in the form of a table or list for example). Examples of such features include the length of a line connecting an L4 buffer to one or more L5 buffers and the number of L5 buffers driven by a single L4 buffer. For each incremental value of the network feature or features, one or more buffer types is specified. These buffer types have been previously modeled in the environment of the incremental value of the network features and found to meet certain criteria necessary to minimize skew. If when designing a signal distribution network the designer (or design tool) chooses L4 buffers from the proper locations on the table, then skew should be minimized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.