Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for specifying multiple voltage domains and validating physical implementation and interconnections in a processor chip

US7305639B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 2005
Grant dateDec 4, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 5, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2119/06
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method, an apparatus and computer instructions are provided for specifying multiple voltage domains of a signal and macros in a processor chip and validating physical implementation and interconnections of the signal and macros. A set of attributes is provided for designs to define multiple voltage domains of a signal and macros in a processor chip. A first validation mechanism is then provided to validate that no electrical or logical errors created by logical connections between macros as defined by the set of attributes. A translation mechanism is provided to translate logical voltage description to a physical netlist for designers to connect powers to macros and signals. A second validation mechanism is provided to validate physical implementation adhere to designers' intent according to the set of attributes defined in the logical design.

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