Optimization of circuit designs using a continuous spectrum of library cells
US7107551B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2111/06
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for optimizing a circuit design using a library of cells in which a continuous spectrum of cells are provided. A library containing real and virtual cells is used so that cells can be selected across a wide spectrum of a design parameter, such as drive strength. The cells are provided in discrete steps small enough that the effect of having a continuous spectrum of cells is achieved. After optimization, only the cells finally selected need be actually synthesized, and when these constitute a small percentage of the total number of cells, the impact to library size and final placement and routing is minimized. Thus the ability to optimize across a continuous spectrum is achieved while preserving a cell library based design flow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.