Abstract: An information processing system, device and method wherein a base board is configured to couple to both back and midplane systems as well as optical modules for use in a data center rack system. Specifically, a base board adapter is configured to electrically couple to an integrated backplane/midplane electronic interface of the base board and translate the signals to one or more optical interface module connectors such that one or more optical interface modules are able to be coupled to the base board.

Abstract: System and method of determining flip-flop counts of interconnects of a physical layout during integrated circuit (IC) design. The outputs of each logic block are defined as primary inputs, and the inputs of each logic block are defined as primary outputs. Each interconnect is traversed from a primary input a primary output to identify the flip-flops and determine the flip-flop count. If an interconnect has a greater flip-flop count than an RTL estimated count, measures are taken to reduce the need for flip-flops with the current routing design. If the interconnect has a smaller flip-flop count than an RTL estimated count, additional flip-flops are inserted.

Abstract: System and method of automatically performing flip-flop insertions for each net in a logic interface by using the RTL-estimated maximum count as a limit. Based on the timing analysis on the physical layout, a flip-flop insertion count needed for each net is derived and candidate locations for insertions are automatically detected. A set of constraints is applied to identify ineligible locations for flip-flop insertions. If more flip-flop insertions than the count limit are needed to satisfy the timing requirements for a net, timing-related variables are iteratively adjusted using the current layout until the timing requirements can be satisfied using the RTL count limit. If all the nets in the interface need fewer flip-flop insertions than the RTL count limit, the information can be fed back to update the RTL count limit. Each net is then parsed and flip-flops are inserted at appropriated locations.

Abstract: System and method of automatically performing repeater insertions in physical design of an integrated circuit. Repeaters are inserted in interconnects in a staggered fashion and spaced apart to accommodate potential flip-flop insertions. The sufficient spacing between the repeaters in combination with the staggered pattern ensures that flip-flop insertions can be performed at any of the repeater locations without space limitation. When rerouting is needed following a flip-flop insertion on an interconnect, automatic rerouting is performed but restricted to a short and specified region along the interconnect. Thereby, the resulted alteration from the current routing configuration is minimal and deterministic.

Abstract: System and method of determining flip-flop counts of interconnects of a physical layout during integrated circuit (IC) design. The outputs of each logic block are defined as primary inputs, and the inputs of each logic block are defined as primary outputs. Each interconnect is traversed from a primary input a primary output to identify the flip-flops and determine the flip-flop count. If an interconnect has a greater flip-flop count than an RTL estimated count, measures are taken to reduce the need for flip-flops with the current routing design. If the interconnect has a smaller flip-flop count than an RTL estimated count, additional flip-flops are inserted.

Abstract: System and method of automatically performing repeater insertions in physical design of an integrated circuit. Repeaters are inserted in interconnects in a staggered fashion and spaced apart to accommodate potential flip-flop insertions. The sufficient spacing between the repeaters in combination with the staggered pattern ensures that flip-flop insertions can be performed at any of the repeater locations without space limitation. When rerouting is needed following a flip-flop insertion on an interconnect, automatic rerouting is performed but restricted to a short and specified region along the interconnect. Thereby, the resulted alteration from the current routing configuration is minimal and deterministic.

Abstract: Clock stations in a hybrid tree-mesh clock distribution network are placed and routed using placement information embedded in instance names of the macrocells that form the clock-distribution network. The instance name includes (X,Y) coordinate information corresponding to placement of the macrocell in the physical layout of the network design. Base cells in each macrocell are placed in a known deterministic arrangement, such as one on top of another in a layout of the clock distribution network, all at the same (X,Y) offset. Preferably, the base cells are all from a standard-cell library, thereby reducing design cost and debug.

Abstract: System and method of automatically performing flip-flop insertions for each net in a logic interface by using the RTL-estimated maximum count as a limit. Based on the timing analysis on the physical layout, a flip-flop insertion count needed for each net is derived and candidate locations for insertions are automatically detected. A set of constraints is applied to identify ineligible locations for flip-flop insertions. If more flip-flop insertions than the count limit are needed to satisfy the timing requirements for a net, timing-related variables are iteratively adjusted using the current layout until the timing requirements can be satisfied using the RTL count limit. If all the nets in the interface need fewer flip-flop insertions than the RTL count limit, the information can be fed back to update the RTL count limit. Each net is then parsed and flip-flops are inserted at appropriated locations.

Abstract: An electronic device fabrication tool uses only standard-size cells from a cell library to fabricate a clock distribution network on a semiconductor device, thereby reducing the cost of the fabrication process. Target clock drive strengths are determined to reduce skew along the clock-distribution network, and the standard size cells are combined to produce clock-driving components substantially equal to the target clock drive strengths. The cells are combined using VIA programming, by electrically coupling them by adding or removing vias connecting the cells. In hybrid tree-mesh clock distribution networks, VIA programming ensures that the binary tree portions of the network are not affected by the tuning. Preferably, the clock-driving elements are clock inverters or buffers, though other elements are able to be used to drive clock signals on the clock distribution network.

Abstract: Clock networks constructed with variable drive strength clock drivers are prepared for tuning. The clock drivers are built from a smaller set of base standard cells. Locations of the input and output netlists of the macrocells are marked and reserved even through the extraction process. The macrocells are able to be flattened, generating a netlist with the base cells, and recombined during circuit simulation, thereby reducing the number of iterations, making the tuning flow more efficient. The clock network is initially tuned by adding or removing cross-links in the mesh to balance capacitive loads on each driver of the clock mesh.

Abstract: An information processing system, device and method wherein a base board is configured to couple to both back and midplane systems as well as optical modules for use in a data center rack system. Specifically, a base board adapter is configured to electrically couple to an integrated backplane/midplane electronic interface of the base board and translate the signals to one or more optical interface module connectors such that one or more optical interface modules are able to be coupled to the base board.

Abstract: An information processing system including a support structure supporting a plurality of blade boards configured to detachably couple to an electronic interface of the structure. The blade boards each include a printed circuit board having a front board edge, one or more optical interface modules positioned on the front edge of the circuit board and a processing chip coupled to the circuit board and having a plurality of pin outs that are each electrically coupled to at least one of the optical interface modules via one or more traces on the circuit board. Further, the sides of the processing chip are non-parallel with the front board edge of the printed circuit board. As a result, the board is able to simultaneously reduce trace length and increase cooling efficiency of the system.

Abstract: An electronic device fabrication tool uses only standard-size cells from a cell library to fabricate a clock distribution network on a semiconductor device, thereby reducing the cost of the fabrication process. Target clock drive strengths are determined to reduce skew along the clock-distribution network, and the standard size cells are combined to produce clock-driving components substantially equal to the target clock drive strengths. The cells are combined using VIA programming, by electrically coupling them by adding or removing vias connecting the cells. In hybrid tree-mesh clock distribution networks, VIA programming ensures that the binary tree portions of the network are not affected by the tuning. Preferably, the clock-driving elements are clock inverters or buffers, though other elements are able to be used to drive clock signals on the clock distribution network.

Abstract: Clock networks constructed with variable drive strength clock drivers are prepared for tuning. The clock drivers are built from a smaller set of base standard cells. Locations of the input and output netlists of the macrocells are marked and reserved even through the extraction process. The macrocells are able to be flattened, generating a netlist with the base cells, and recombined during circuit simulation, thereby reducing the number of iterations, making the tuning flow more efficient. The clock network is initially tuned by adding or removing cross-links in the mesh to balance capacitive loads on each driver of the clock mesh.

Abstract: Clock stations in a hybrid tree-mesh clock distribution network are placed and routed using placement information embedded in instance names of the macrocells that form the clock-distribution network. The instance name includes (X,Y) coordinate information corresponding to placement of the macrocell in the physical layout of the network design. Base cells in each macrocell are placed in a known deterministic arrangement, such as one on top of another in a layout of the clock distribution network, all at the same (X,Y) offset. Preferably, the base cells are all from a standard-cell library, thereby reducing design cost and debug.