Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a placement method for the physical design of integrated circuits in which natural topological feature clusters (topo-clusters) are discovered and exploited during the placement process. Topo-clusters may be formed based on various criteria including, for example, functional similarity, proximity (in terms of number of nets), and genus. Genus refers to a representation of a netlist in terms of a number of planar netlists—netlists in which no crossing of nets occurs. Topo-clusters drive initial placement, with all of the gates of a topo-cluster being placed initially in a single bin of the placement layout or within a group of positionally-related bins. The portion of a topo-cluster placed within a given bin is called a quanto-cluster. An iterative placement refinement process then follows, using a technique referred to herein as Geometrically-Bounded FM (GBFM), and in particular Dual GBFM.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a placement method for the physical design of integrated circuits in which natural topological feature clusters (topo-clusters) are discovered and exploited during the placement process. Topo-clusters may be formed based on various criteria including, for example, functional similarity, proximity (in terms of number of nets), and genus. Genus refers to a representation of a netlist in terms of a number of planar netlists—netlists in which no crossing of nets occurs. Topo-clusters drive initial placement, with all of the gates of a topo-cluster being placed initially in a single bin of the placement layout or within a group of positionally-related bins. The portion of a topo-cluster placed within a given bin is called a quanto-cluster. An iterative placement refinement process then follows, using a technique referred to herein as Geometrically-Bounded FM (GBFM), and in particular Dual GBFM.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a placement method for the physical design of integrated circuits in which natural topological feature clusters are discovered and exploited during the placement process is disclosed. Topo-clusters drive initial placement, with all of the gates of a topo-cluster being placed initially in a single bin of the placement layout or within a group of positionally-related bins. An iterative placement refinement process is done using a technique referred to as Dual Geometrically-Bounded FM (GBFM). GBFM is applied on a local basis to windows encompassing a number of bins. From iteration to iteration, windows may shift position and vary in size. When a region bounded by a window meets a specified cost threshold in terms of a specified cost function, that region stops participating. Following the foregoing global placement process the circuit is then ready for detailed placement in which cells are assigned to placement rows.

Abstract: A design tool for integrated circuits includes a placement tool which places logic gates and interconnect components concurrently. Probabilistic interconnect models are used to represent the collection of possible interconnect routings that provide acceptable circuit performance and routing area.

Abstract: A design tool for integrated circuits includes a placement tool which places logic gates and interconnect components concurrently. Probabilistic interconnect models are used to represent the collection of possible interconnect routings that provide acceptable circuit performance and routing area.

Abstract: A method for design optimization using logical and physical information is provided. In one embodiment, a method for design optimization using logical and physical information, includes receiving a behavioral description of an integrated circuit or a portion of an integrated circuit, optimizing placement of circuit elements in accordance with a first cost function, and optimizing logic of the circuit elements in accordance with a second cost function, in which the optimizing placement of the circuit elements and the optimizing logic of the circuit elements are performed concurrently. The method can further include optimizing routing in accordance with a third cost function, in which the optimizing routing, the optimizing placement of the circuit elements, and the optimizing logic of the circuit elements are performed concurrently.