Abstract: A pre-diffused array of core memory cells is provided in a metal programmable device. Multiple control block versions of interface logic are also provided and placed around the memory core. Contact points for each control block are brought to the surface of the wafer using a via. The appropriate interface logic is selected by connecting the metal layer to the appropriate surface contacts to access the core memory cells. The application-specific circuit, including memory configuration and memory interface type, is programmed with the metal layer.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting repeaters at different levels in a processor hierarchy involve tracing a net in a processor circuit followed by inserting repeaters at different locations in the net. The net is a circuit trace of wiring between circuit elements of a circuit, the net being divided into two nets. One net includes internal circuit elements of a processor component and another net includes external circuit elements of a processor component. A repeater solution, which includes inserted repeaters coupled to the internal circuit elements, is instantiated to other processor components. Subsequently, after instantiation of the repeater solution, repeaters are inserted in the nets external to the processor component.

Abstract: A logic verification device, a logic verification method and a logic verification computer program that can reduce the number of steps involved in designing a logic circuit particularly when the designed logic circuit is subjected to logic verification and modification at the spot where an error is detected.

Abstract: A mechanism for constructing Steiner trees using simultaneous blockage avoidance, delay optimization, and design density management are provided. An initial tiled timing-driven Steiner tree is obtained for an integrated circuit design. The Steiner tree is broken into 2-paths for which plates are generated designated the permissible area in which a Steiner point may migrate. Each 2-path is optimized by calculating a cost for each tile in the plate as a function of an environmental cost, a tile delay cost, and a trade-off value. A minimum cost tile is then selected as the point to which the Steiner point in the 2-path, if any, is to migrate. Once each 2-path is processed in this manner, routing is performed so as to minimize the cost at the source. This process may be iteratively repeated with new trade-off values until all of the nets have zero or positive slew.

Abstract: A method for controlling analysis by an analysis tool of multiple instantiations of a circuit in a hierarchical circuit design is described. The method comprises providing a user-selected analysis option to the analysis tool; analyzing a first instantiation of the circuit as specified by the analysis option; and responsive to the first instantiation of the circuit passing the analysis, terminating analysis of the circuit.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge analysis method includes extracting the pads from an input layout of the semiconductor integrated circuit; extracting the nets connected to the extracted pads; extracting the protective elements connected to the extracted nets; forming connection nodes that connect the pads or the protective elements to the nets; extracting for each net, distributed resistances that distribute along the net; connecting the distributed resistances to the connection nodes in place of the nets; forming inter-resistance nodes between the distributed resistances; and calculating an inter-pad voltage when flowing electrostatic discharge current between the pads.

Abstract: A method (100) of physical circuit design can include the steps of packing components (110) of a circuit design that are dependent upon an architecture of the circuit design and assigning initial locations (115) to each component of the circuit design. The components of the circuit design can be clustered (120) by combining slices and including slices into configurable logic blocks according to design constraints, while leaving enough white space in the configurable logic blocks for post-placement circuit optimizations. The components of the circuit design then can be placed (125) to minimize critical connections. The circuit design can be declustered (130) to perform additional placer optimization tasks (135) on the declustered circuit design.

Abstract: An iterative process assigns nodes of a new logical tree to positions in a space that was previously assigned to an old logical tree equivalent to the new logical tree. A path in the new tree is identified for an essential node of the new tree. Coordinates of a position in the space are identified for an old tree node that is equivalent to a son of the essential node. Coordinates are iteratively identified for each node in the new tree path using a free space algorithm and based on the nodes of the new tree path and the coordinates identified for the old tree node that is equivalent to the son of the essential node. If all sons of the essential node are leaves of the new tree, the old tree node is a leaf node equivalent to the son. Otherwise, the old tree node is identified in a prior iteration.

Abstract: To design a chip having a plurality of circuit areas driven by different power supplies, a boundary cell to be inserted on the boundary between the circuit areas is prepared. After creating a logic circuit netlist with a design tool, the boundary cell is inserted on the boundary. The boundary cell is connected on a signal transmission path between the circuit areas. A circuit for suppressing shoot-through current or leakage current is used as the boundary circuit. By preparing the boundary cell in a cell library, chip design is facilitated.

Abstract: A footprint based optimal characterization of intellectual property (IP) for more deterministic physical integration. The physical integration characteristics are based upon IP physical integration at an anchor point in a pre-defined IC platform. IP footprint characteristics are identified as fixed, variable or prioritized to each other, and bounding constraints are defined based on a set of characteristics for the IP, the platform characteristics and IC design requirements. The IP is physically synthesized using the bounding constraints. The synthesized IP is tested and the bounding constraints are iteratively modified until the characteristics of the synthesized IP are optimized/captured.

Abstract: A method and latch circuit for implementing enhanced performance includes critical data and clock paths and non-critical sections. A low voltage threshold (LVT) transistor is used only in the critical data and clock paths. The non-critical sections are implemented with regular VT, (RVT), or low leakage (LLD) transistors. The latch circuit advantageously is implemented using LVT devices in the internal critical paths of the latch and RVT output buffer transistors.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of associating a mapping function with a configuration construct of a digital design defined by one or more hardware description language (HDL) files. According to the method, in the HDL files, a configuration latch is specified within a design entity forming at least a portion of the digital design. In addition, a Dial is specified that defines a relationship between each of a plurality of input values and a respective one of a plurality of different output values. The HDL files also include a statement that instantiates an instance of the Dial in association with the configuration latch such that a one-to-one correspondence exists between a value contained within the configuration latch and an input value of the instance of the Dial. The HDL files further include a statement associating the Dial with a mapping function that applies a selected transformation to values read from or written to the instance of the Dial.

Abstract: A method of determining an optimal transistor fanout. The method includes creating a sizing model by replacing at least one logic element in a circuit description with a sizing element that includes a dynamic resistor. The method also includes determining a steady state solution to the sizing model and determining at least one transistor fanout from the steady state solution.

Abstract: A design, device, system and process for placing slots in active regions (e.g., metal areas). Embodiments of the present invention improve the planarization of metal areas (e.g., lines) and insulators by reducing depressions (e.g., dishing) in the metal areas by including symmetric or square slots inside selected wide metal lines, by adhering to a set of placement rules. Embodiments reduce dishing in copper dual damascene structures. Embodiments reduce data processing requirements for designing and arranging the layout of IC devices and the slots.

Abstract: A method for defect diagnosis of semiconductor chip. The method comprises the steps of (a) identifying M design structures and N physical characteristics of the circuit design, wherein M and N are positive integers, wherein each design structure of the M design structures is testable as to pass or fail, and wherein each physical characteristic of the N physical characteristics is present in at least one design structure of the M design structures; (b) for each design structure of the M design structures of the circuit design, determining a fail rate and determining whether the fail rate is high or low; and (c) if every design structure of the M design structures in which a physical characteristic of the N physical characteristics is present has a high fail rate, then flagging the physical characteristic as being likely to contain at least a defect.

Abstract: Method and program product for analyzing an asynchronously clocked system. The system being analyzed has independently clocked subsystems with clock boundaries therebetween. The model identifies a boundary between the two independently clocked subsystems, and identifies behavior at the boundary between the two independently clocked subsystems. and modeling a latch at the boundary between the two independently clocked subsystems with a behavior model, said behavioral model comprising data receiver time delays.

Abstract: Circuit designs and methods are provided for matching device characteristics for, e.g., analog or mixed-signal semiconductor integrated circuit designs. In particular, circuit layout patterns and layout methods are provided which enable precise or proportional matching of circuit components by uniformly distributing circuit components in a manner that eliminates or significantly minimizes the sensitivity of such circuit components to environmental effects and process variations, thereby improving the performance of analog and mixed-signal circuits.

Abstract: An electronic circuit designing method analyzes noise with respect to a wiring pair, and automatically corrects the wiring pair by determining a spacing between wirings of the wiring pair so as to prevent generation of a noise error, if the noise error is detected based on the analysis of the noise.

Abstract: A method of generating a schematic driven layout for an integrated circuit design includes steps of: (a) receiving as input a representation of a integrated circuit design comprising a hierarchy of blocks; (b) selecting a block in the hierarchy of blocks that requires a physical design and that contains no missing components; (c) generating a physical design for the selected block so that the selected block is no longer a missing component of any other block; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a physical design has been generated for each block in the hierarchy of blocks.

Abstract: A method and system for storing and modifying register transfer language (RTL) described logic types. Upon a declaration of a signal interconnect, a language extension of a register transfer language is defined for the signal interconnect based on the signal interconnect's type. The language extensions allow different signal interconnect types, such as those used with field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and standard cells, to be stored in a same file array hierarchy. This storage facilitates changing logic types, thus ultimately resulting in an integrated circuit (IC) that is either smaller (using more standard cells) or more flexible (using more FPGA cells). The transition from one RTL type to another is performed within the physical design cycle, in which wiring, timing and placement of components (information) is performed before masking out the final chip design.