Patent · US Expired

Function block architecture for gate array and method for forming an asic

US6954917B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
43References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 11, 2003
Grant dateOct 11, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/17796
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming an application specific integrated circuit, comprises receiving a circuit design for the application specific integrated circuit from a designer; performing an initial place and route layout of the circuit design which leaves a group of buffer modules unused, based upon a partially predesigned integrated circuit, in which the partially predesigned integrated circuit includes a plurality of logic modules and a plurality of buffer modules uniformly distributed amongst the logic modules; evaluating load and timing characteristics for the initial place and route layout of the circuit design; and integrating buffer modules from the group of unused buffer modules into the circuit design, based on the load and timing characteristics evaluated. A gate array, for forming the application specific integrated circuit in accordance with the invention includes a matrix of function blocks capable of being configured to implement combinational, sequential, and memory modes of operation, as well as providing tri-state drivers and buffers in useful numbers.

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