Patents by Inventor Douglas S. Search

Douglas S. Search has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8171442
    Abstract: A method to at least partially isolate a net of a circuit design is provided and includes testing a timing characteristic of a circuit design, identifying from a result of the testing a net of the circuit design to be at least partially isolated from an adjacent net and determining a percentage of the identified net to be partially isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandra Echegaray, Heidi L. Lagares, Douglas S. Search, Stephen Szulewski
  • Patent number: 8141019
    Abstract: A circuit design process is executed to preserve overall design quality while obtaining quality placements for a full class of pipeline structure signatures. The process employs a method for optimizing pipeline structure placement in a circuit design, by initiating an analysis of pipeline logic structures for correcting poor quality of result (QOR) placements by identifying poor placements caused by placement algorithmic response to degenerate cases and in the process of analysis preserving high quality placements of global placement and timing to preserve preponderant non-degenerate cases in said circuit design. Then employing a plurality of global placement steps, wherein each subsequent placement's QOR is dependent upon the prior placement's quality of result QOR, circuits are identified as being involved in a class of degenerate cases, and circuits having poor placements are removed by stripping them from the global placement solution and also other non-degenerate poor quality placements are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Douglas S. Search
  • Patent number: 8032851
    Abstract: A design structure for reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit is proposed, wherein sets of nets are classified according to their coupling characteristics, and spacing between wires assigned to the sets of nets is chosen according to the coupling characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Moussadek Belaidi, Markus Buehler, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Patent number: 8006208
    Abstract: A routing method for reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit is proposed, wherein sets of nets are classified according to their coupling characteristics, and spacing between wires assigned to the sets of nets is chosen according to the coupling characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Moussadek Belaidi, Markus Buehler, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Patent number: 7921398
    Abstract: A method for determining placement of circuitry during integrated circuit design is presented. The method includes accessing a net list identifying circuitry connections. A plurality of individual net weights are assigned to nets in timing paths within the net list. A composite net weight is determined for said timing paths, the composite net weight being in response to the plurality of individual net weights. Concurrently therewith it is advantageous to utilize our new method of improvements of concurrently proceeding to improve wireability of said design by additional timing optimization and net weight mapping modification steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Jose L. Neves, Douglas S. Search
  • Publication number: 20110066989
    Abstract: A method to at least partially isolate a net of a circuit design is provided and includes testing a timing characteristic of a circuit design, identifying from a result of the testing a net of the circuit design to be at least partially isolated from an adjacent net and determining a percentage of the identified net to be partially isolated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandra Echegaray, Heidi L. Lagares, Douglas S. Search, Stephen Szulewski
  • Patent number: 7904861
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for coupled noise timing violation avoidance in detailed routing of an integrated circuit design are provided. The method includes calculating a noise induced timing violation sensitivity (NITVS) metric for nets in the integrated circuit design as a measure of sensitivity to a timing violation relative to a coupled noise delay adder, prioritizing routing isolation as a function of the NITVS metric for each of the nets to avoid coupled noise timing violations, and outputting the routing isolation priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Markus Buehler, Moussadek Belaidi, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Patent number: 7823108
    Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is made using Genie, a described computer chip design tool which can analyze the data contained within an entire endpoint report, compute relationships between paths based on shared segments, and display this information graphically to the designer. Specifically, Genie groups failing paths into Timing Islands. A timing island is a group of paths which contain at least one shared segment. The most frequently shared segment is sifted to the top of the priority list for each island, and is labeled as the Hub. Thinking of timing islands as a tree, the hub of the island would be the trunk. If you chop the tree down by the trunk, all of the branches, limbs and twigs will fall down too. This is analogous to fixing the timing failures in the hub, and the fix trickling out to each of the segments that dangle off the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Michael J. Cadigan, Jr., Edward J. Hughes, Kevin M. Mcllvain, Jose L. Neves, Ray Raphy, Douglas S. Search
  • Patent number: 7810062
    Abstract: A method for eliminating negative slack in a netlist representing a chip design uses a contrived timing environment to overlay information onto the design environment during logic and physical synthesis phase. The overlaid timing information determines which netlist transformation provides a maximum leverage for the negative slack elimination and a way for creating a dynamic transformation recipe tuned for each design. The method further provides upper bounds on the negative slack elimination to prevent the netlist transforms from being applied to situations exceeding the capabilities for improving the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, William E. Dougherty, Jr., Jose L. Neves, Douglas S. Search
  • Publication number: 20100223588
    Abstract: A routing method for reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit is proposed, wherein sets of nets are classified according to their coupling characteristics, and spacing between wires assigned to the sets of nets is chosen according to the coupling characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Moussadek Belaidi, Markus Buehler, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Publication number: 20090106711
    Abstract: Using a computer and storage, a circuit design process is executed to preserve overall design quality while obtaining quality placements for a full class of pipeline structure signatures. These signatures include classic latch to latch pipelines, as well as a variety of latch to latch and mixed logic pipelines. The process employs a method for optimizing pipeline structure placement in a circuit design, by initiating an analysis of pipeline logic structures for correcting poor quality of result (QOR) placements by identifying poor placements caused by placement algorithmic response to degenerate cases and in the process of analysis preserving high quality placements of global placement and timing to preserve preponderant non-degenerate cases in said circuit design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Douglas S. Search
  • Publication number: 20090070715
    Abstract: A method for eliminating negative slack in a netlist representing a chip design uses a contrived timing environment to overlay information onto the design environment during logic and physical synthesis phase. The overlaid timing information determines which netlist transformation provides a maximum leverage for the negative slack elimination and a way for creating a dynamic transformation recipe tuned for each design. The method further provides upper bounds on the negative slack elimination to prevent the netlist transforms from being applied to situations exceeding the capabilities for improving the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, William E. Dougherty, JR., Jose L. Neves, Douglas S. Search
  • Patent number: 7496866
    Abstract: Using a computer and storage, a circuit design process is executed to preserve overall design quality while obtaining quality placements for a full class of pipeline structure signatures. These signatures include classic latch to latch pipelines, as well as a variety of latch to latch and mixed logic pipelines. The process employs a method for optimizing pipeline structure placement in a circuit design, by initiating an analysis of pipeline logic structures for correcting poor quality of result (QOR) placements by identifying poor placements caused by placement algorithmic response to degenerate cases and in the process of analysis preserving high quality placements of global placement and timing to preserve preponderant non-degenerate cases in said circuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Douglas S. Search
  • Publication number: 20080313588
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for coupled noise timing violation avoidance in detailed routing of an integrated circuit design are provided. The method includes calculating a noise induced timing violation sensitivity (NITVS) metric for nets in the integrated circuit design as a measure of sensitivity to a timing violation relative to a coupled noise delay adder, prioritizing routing isolation as a function of the NITVS metric for each of the nets to avoid coupled noise timing violations, and outputting the routing isolation priority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markus Buehler, Moussadek Belaidi, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Publication number: 20080184186
    Abstract: A design structure for reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit is proposed, wherein sets of nets are classified according to their coupling characteristics, and spacing between wires assigned to the sets of nets is chosen according to the coupling characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Moussadek Belaidi, Markus Buehler, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Publication number: 20080163149
    Abstract: A method for determining placement of circuitry during integrated circuit design is presented. The method includes accessing a net list identifying circuitry connections. A plurality of individual net weights are assigned to nets in timing paths within the net list. A composite net weight is determined for said timing paths, the composite net weight being in response to the plurality of individual net weights. Concurrently therewith it is advantageous to utilize our new method of improvements of concurrently proceeding to improve wireability of said design by additional timing optimization and net weight mapping modification steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Jose L. Neves, Douglas S. Search
  • Publication number: 20080148213
    Abstract: A routing method for reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit is proposed, wherein sets of nets are classified according to their coupling characteristics, and spacing between wires assigned to the sets of nets is chosen according to the coupling characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Moussadek Belaidi, Markus Buehler, James J. Curtin, Adam P. Matheny, Bryan A. Meyer, Douglas S. Search, Dhaval R. Sejpal, Charles Vakirtzis
  • Patent number: 7376924
    Abstract: A method for determining placement of circuitry during integrated circuit design is presented. The method includes accessing a net list identifying circuitry connections. A plurality of individual net weights are assigned to nets in timing paths within the net list. A composite net weight is determined for said timing paths, the composite net weight being in response to the plurality of individual net weights. Concurrently therewith it is advantageous to utilize our new method of improvements of concurrently proceeding to improve wireability of said design by additional timing optimization and net weight mapping modification steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Jose L. Neves, Douglas S. Search
  • Patent number: 7356793
    Abstract: Genie is a described computer chip design tool which can analyze the data contained within an entire endpoint report, compute relationships between paths based on shared segments, and display this information graphically to the designer. Specifically, Genie groups failing paths into Timing Islands. A timing island is a group of paths which contain at least one shared segment. The most frequently shared segment is sifted to the top of the priority list for each island, and is labeled as the Hub. Thinking of timing islands as a tree, the hub of the island would be the trunk. If you chop the tree down by the trunk, all of the branches, limbs and twigs will fall down too. This is analogous to fixing the timing failures in the hub, and the fix trickling out to each of the segments that dangle off the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Michael J. Cadigan, Jr., Edward J. Hughes, Kevin M. McIlvain, Jose L. Neves, Ray Raphy, Douglas S. Search
  • Publication number: 20070300192
    Abstract: Using a computer and storage, a circuit design process is executed to preserve overall design quality while obtaining quality placements for a full class of pipeline structure signatures. These signatures include classic latch to latch pipelines, as well as a variety of latch to latch and mixed logic pipelines. The process employs a method for optimizing pipeline structure placement in a circuit design, by initiating an analysis of pipeline logic structures for correcting poor quality of result (QOR) placements by identifying poor placements caused by placement algorithmic response to degenerate cases and in the process of analysis preserving high quality placements of global placement and timing to preserve preponderant non-degenerate cases in said circuit design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James J. Curtin, Douglas S. Search