Patents by Inventor Eric Nequist

Eric Nequist 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: 11157670
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for designing an IC where the smallest repeatable block is selected, designed and tested to span across multiple die levels. The block is configured to be timing closed at the block level thereby reducing the overall complexity of the design and avoiding the limiting effects of the constrained EDA tools. The block may subsequently be repeated on multiple die to be stacked in an IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Xcelsis Corporation
    Inventors: Javier A Delacruz, Eric Nequist, Jung Ko, Kenneth Duong
  • Publication number: 20200356714
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for designing an IC where the smallest repeatable block is selected, designed and tested to span across multiple die levels. The block is configured to be timing closed at the block level thereby reducing the overall complexity of the design and avoiding the limiting effects of the constrained EDA tools. The block may subsequently be repeated on multiple die to be stacked in an IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Xcelsis Corporation
    Inventors: Javier A. DELACRUZ, Eric NEQUIST, Jung KO, Kenneth DUONG
  • Patent number: 10664564
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for designing an IC where the smallest repeatable block is selected, designed and tested to span across multiple die levels. The block is configured to be timing closed at the block level thereby reducing the overall complexity of the design and avoiding the limiting effects of the constrained EDA tools. The block may subsequently be repeated on multiple die to be stacked in an IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Xcelsis Corporation
    Inventors: Javier A Delacruz, Eric Nequist, Jung Ko, Kenneth Duong
  • Publication number: 20190392104
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for designing an IC where the smallest repeatable block is selected, designed and tested to span across multiple die levels. The block is configured to be timing closed at the block level thereby reducing the overall complexity of the design and avoiding the limiting effects of the constrained EDA tools. The block may subsequently be repeated on multiple die to be stacked in an IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Xcelsis Corporation
    Inventors: Javier A DELACRUZ, Eric NEQUIST, Jung KO, Kenneth DUONG
  • Patent number: 8635574
    Abstract: An improved method and system for performing extraction on an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Extraction may be performed at granularities much smaller than the entire IC design, in which a halo is used to identify a geometric volume surrounding an object of interest to identify neighboring objects and generate an electrical model. The extraction approach can be taken for Islands, Nets, as well as other granularities within the design. Re-extraction of a design can occur at granularities smaller than a net. Some approaches utilize Island-stitching to replace an island within a net. An approach is also described for improving cross-references for cross-coupled objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Nequist, Richard Brashears, Matthew A. Liberty, Michael C. McSherry
  • Patent number: 8631363
    Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for identifying and tracking nets in an electrical design. A hierarchical design does not have to be flattened to perform the operation of identifying and tracking nets. To identify sets of connected shapes, instead of having to unfold the entire design hierarchy, only the specific instances of shapes falling within the geometric bounds of shapes identified as being part of a net needs to be unfolded to perform the search. When composing the list of nets for a hierarchical design, the unfolded shapes at other hierarchical levels of the design can be derived based upon virtual terminal structures that implicitly references nets and objects at other levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 8438512
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and system for implementing parallelism for execution of electronic design automation (EDA) tools, such as layout processing tools. Examples of EDA layout processing tools are placement and routing tools. Efficient locking mechanism are described for facilitating parallel processing and to minimize blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cross, Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 8392864
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program product for implementing model-based floorplanning, layout, placement, and routing. Models are used to guide the placement and routing of polygons on the IC layout based upon predictions of manufacturing variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David White, Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 8386975
    Abstract: An improved method, system, user interface, and computer program product is described for using a memory and learning component to improve capacitance and resistance estimates based on the types of layouts and devices being evaluated. According to some approaches, a learning component is implemented that uses recommended test sets from the evaluation component to automatically test the extraction estimates against the field solver. Variability models from manufacturing or electrical analysis may also be used to select a series of objects (unique conductor geometries) that make up a conduction path or net or specific conductor geometries for evaluation and additional learning improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David White, Matthew Liberty, Eric Nequist, Michael McSherry
  • Patent number: 8375342
    Abstract: An improved method and system for performing extraction on an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Extraction may be performed at granularities much smaller than the entire IC design, in which a halo is used to identify a geometric volume surrounding an object of interest to identify neighboring objects and generate an electrical model. The extraction approach can be taken for Islands, Nets, as well as other granularities within the design. Re-extraction of a design can occur at granularities smaller than a net. Some approaches utilize Island-stitching to replace an island within a net. An approach is also described for improving cross-references for cross-coupled objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Nequist, Richard Brashears, Matthew A. Liberty, Michael C. McSherry
  • Patent number: 8316331
    Abstract: An improved method and system for stitching one or more islands of an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Multiple connected island objects in the IC design are first identified. At least one of the multiple identified connected island objects is then modified to form a modified island object. The modified island object may then be stitched into the multiple identified connected island objects. In some embodiments, stitching a modified island object may be implemented by tracking the endpoint(s), port(s), or node(s) of the connected island object being modified and stitched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Nequist, Richard Brashears, Matthew A. Liberty, Michael C. McSherry
  • Publication number: 20120131524
    Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for identifying and tracking nets in an electrical design. A hierarchical design does not have to be flattened to perform the operation of identifying and tracking nets. To identify sets of connected shapes, instead of having to unfold the entire design hierarchy, only the specific instances of shapes falling within the geometric bounds of shapes identified as being part of a net needs to be unfolded to perform the search. When composing the list of nets for a hierarchical design, the unfolded shapes at other hierarchical levels of the design can be derived based upon virtual terminal structures that implicitly references nets and objects at other levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 8136060
    Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for identifying and tracking nets in an electrical design. A hierarchical design does not have to be flattened to perform the operation of identifying and tracking nets. To identify sets of connected shapes, instead of having to unfold the entire design hierarchy, only the specific instances of shapes falling within the geometric bounds of shapes identified as being part of a net needs to be unfolded to perform the search. When composing the list of nets for a hierarchical design, the unfolded shapes at other hierarchical levels of the design can be derived based upon virtual terminal structures that implicitly references nets and objects at other levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Nequist
  • Publication number: 20110314432
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and system for implementing parallelism for execution of electronic design automation (EDA) tools, such as layout processing tools. Examples of EDA layout processing tools are placement and routing tools. Efficient locking mechanism are described for facilitating parallel processing and to minimize blocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: David Cross, Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 8069426
    Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for identifying and tracking nets in an electrical design. A hierarchical design does not have to be flattened to perform the operation of identifying and tracking nets. To identify sets of connected shapes, instead of having to unfold the entire design hierarchy, only the specific instances of shapes falling within the geometric bounds of shapes identified as being part of a net needs to be unfolded to perform the search. When composing the list of nets for a hierarchical design, the unfolded shapes at other hierarchical levels of the design can be derived based upon virtual terminal structures that implicitly references nets and objects at other levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 8010917
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and system for implementing parallelism for execution of electronic design automation (EDA) tools, such as layout processing tools. Examples of EDA layout processing tools are placement and routing tools. Efficient locking mechanism are described for facilitating parallel processing and to minimize blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cross, Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 7971173
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method, system, and article of manufacture for implementing routing for an electrical circuit and chip design. A routing architecture can be represented as a spectrum of different granular routing levels. Instead of routing based upon area, routing can be performed for specific routes or portions of routes. Different types of representation or levels of abstraction for the routing can be used for the same net or route. Partial topological reconfiguration, refinement, or rip-up can be performed for a portion of the integrated circuit design, where the portion is smaller than an entire route or net. Non-uniform levels of routing activities or resources may be applied to route the design. Prioritization may be used to route certain portions of the design with greater levels of detail, abstraction, or resources than other portions of the design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brashears, Eric Nequist
  • Publication number: 20110093826
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program product for implementing model-based floorplanning, layout, placement, and routing. Models are used to guide the placement and routing of polygons on the IC layout based upon predictions of manufacturing variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: David WHITE, Eric NEQUIST
  • Patent number: 7904862
    Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for identifying spacing and clearance based rule violations in an IC design. Shadows are employed to identify spacing and clearance based rule violations. The shadow approach of is particularly useful to identify width-dependent spacing and clearance violations, while avoiding false positives that exist with alternate approaches. The embodiments can be used with any type, configuration, or shape of layout objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Nequist
  • Patent number: 7870517
    Abstract: An improved method and system for performing extraction on an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Extraction can be performed at granularities much smaller than the entire IC design, in which a halo is used to identify a geometric volume surrounding an object of interest to identify neighboring objects and generate an electrical model. The extraction approach can be taken for Islands, Nets, as well as other granularities within the design. Re-extraction of a design can occur at granularities smaller than a net. Some approaches utilize Island-stitching to replace an island within a net. An approach is also described for improving cross-references for cross-coupled objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Nequist, Richard Brashears, Matthew A. Liberty, Michael C. McSherry