Patent · US Expired

Optimization processing for integrated circuit physical design automation system using optimally switched fitness improvement algorithms

US6493658B1 · kind B1 · utility

56Cited by
34References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 1994
Grant dateDec 10, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 19, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/392
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A physical design automation system produces an optimal placement of microelectronic components or cells on an integrate circuit chip. An initial population of possible cell placements is generated, and repeatedly altered using simulated on or other fitness improvement algorithm to progressively increase the fitnesses (decrease the costs) of the placements. After each alteration step, the fitnesses of the placements are calculated, and less fit placements are discarded in favor of more fit placements. After a termination criterion is reached, the placement having the highest fitness is designated as the optimal placement. Two or more fitness improvement algorithms are available, and are optimally switched from one to the other in accordance with an optimization criterion to maximize convergence of the placements toward the optimal configuration.

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