Patents by Inventor Kevin W. McCullen

Kevin W. McCullen 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: 9158885
    Abstract: Methods of the present disclosure can include: using a computing device to perform actions including: applying a design rule check (DRC) on a proposed integrated circuit (IC) layout, wherein the DRC applies a set of restrictive design rules (RDRs) in response to the proposed IC layout being a contact area (CA) layout; computing a conflict graph for the proposed IC layout in response to one of the IC layout being a metal layer layout and the set of RDRs being satisfied; determining whether the IC layout is one of non-colorable, indeterminate, partially colorable, and fully colorable; and partially coloring the IC layout and identifying non-colorable nodes in response to the IC layout being indeterminate or partially colorable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Gray, Matthew T. Guzowski, Alexander Ivrii, Lars W. Liebmann, Kevin W. McCullen, Gustavo E. Tellez, Michael Gester
  • Publication number: 20140019931
    Abstract: Approaches are provided for fixing pin mismatches from swapping library cells in layout migration. Specifically, a method is provided that includes collecting information about a first technology pin from a library cell in a first technology. The method further includes swapping the library cell in the first technology with a library cell in a second technology. The method further includes collecting information about a second technology pin from the library cell in the second technology. The method further includes building a pin-mapping table that is configured to map the first technology pin to the second technology pin. The method further includes scaling a layout from the first technology to the second technology. The method further includes modifying the layout based on the pin-mapping table to match the at least one first technology pin to the at least one second technology pin while satisfying ground rules of the second technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin W. MCCULLEN, Matthew T. GUZOWSKI, Rani NARAYAN, Xiaoping TANG, Xin YUAN
  • Patent number: 8627247
    Abstract: Approaches are provided for fixing pin mismatches from swapping library cells in layout migration. Specifically, a method is provided that includes collecting information about a first technology pin from a library cell in a first technology. The method further includes swapping the library cell in the first technology with a library cell in a second technology. The method further includes collecting information about a second technology pin from the library cell in the second technology. The method further includes building a pin-mapping table that is configured to map the first technology pin to the second technology pin. The method further includes scaling a layout from the first technology to the second technology. The method further includes modifying the layout based on the pin-mapping table to match the at least one first technology pin to the at least one second technology pin while satisfying ground rules of the second technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. McCullen, Matthew T. Guzowski, Rani Narayan, Xiaoping Tang, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 8538825
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for informing a user of purchase information in an online purchase situation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining whether an activation device indicator is within a predetermined proximity of a purchase-initiating button in a web browser; and initiating a tip message displaying the purchase information including at least one of: an historical balance, an existing balance, an available amount of credit, or a payment method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin W. McCullen
  • Patent number: 8464189
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for migrating an integrated circuit (IC) design from a source technology without radical design restrictions (RDR) to a target technology with RDR, are disclosed. The invention implements a minimum layout perturbation approach that addresses the RDR requirements. The invention also solves the problem of inserting dummy shapes where required, and extending the lengths of the critical shapes and/or the dummy shapes to meet ‘edge coverage’ requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Cam V. Endicott, Fook-Luen Heng, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani Narayan, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Publication number: 20120233576
    Abstract: Method, system, computer, etc., embodiments receive an original integrated circuit design into a computerized device. The methods herein automatically replace at least some of the original cells within the original integrated circuit design with replacement cells using the computerized device. Each of the replacement cells has an initial cell size that is unassociated with any specific design size. The methods herein automatically change the original design size of the integrated circuit design to a changed design size, and automatically individually change the initial cell size of each of the replacement cells to different sizes. At least two different replacement cells are changed from the initial cell size by different size reduction amounts based on different amounts of space required within the changed design size for each of the replacement cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Barrows, Derick G. Behrends, William J. Craig, Michael S. Gray, Matthew T. Guzowski, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani Narayan, Robert F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20120054073
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for informing a user of purchase information in an online purchase situation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining whether an activation device indicator is within a predetermined proximity of a purchase-initiating button in a web browser; and initiating a tip message displaying the purchase information including at least one of: an historical balance, an existing balance, an available amount of credit, or a payment method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin W. McCullen
  • Patent number: 8095897
    Abstract: A method of laying out features for alternating aperture phase shift masks. The method includes defining features on a grid of a uniform basic pitch, orienting the features such that those of the features defined, at least in part, by phase shifting shapes are oriented along a primary direction, and spacing two features terminating adjacent one another such that the two features have space between them sufficient to prevent phase conflicts if both of the two features are defined, at least in part, by phase shifting shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin W. McCullen
  • Patent number: 7895562
    Abstract: An adaptive weighting method for layout optimization differentiates different priorities by assigning the weight of a higher priority (pi) to be multiple of the weight of a lower priority (pi?1) where W(pi)=mi % W(pi?1. To avoid numerical imprecision, this method keeps the total cost in the objective function within a trustable range by scaling the initial weights in the objectives, while maintaining relativity, to produce the scaled weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gray, Matthew T. Guzowski, Kevin W. McCullen, Xiaoping Tang, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 7882463
    Abstract: The invention includes a solution for selectively scaling an integrated circuit (IC) design by: layer, region or cell, or a combination of these. The selective scaling technique can be applied in a feedback loop with the manufacturing system with process and yield feedback, during the life of a design, to increase yield in early processes in such a way that hierarchy is preserved. The invention removes the need to involve designers in improving yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fook-Luen Heng, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani R. Narayan, Stephen L. Runyon, Robert F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20100185997
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for migrating an integrated circuit (IC) design from a source technology without radical design restrictions (RDR) to a target technology with RDR, are disclosed. The invention implements a minimum layout perturbation approach that addresses the RDR requirements. The invention also solves the problem of inserting dummy shapes where required, and extending the lengths of the critical shapes and/or the dummy shapes to meet ‘edge coverage’ requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Cam V. Endicott, Fook-Luen Heng, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani Narayan, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 7761821
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for migrating an integrated circuit (IC) design from a source technology without radical design restrictions (RDR) to a target technology with RDR, are disclosed. The invention implements a minimum layout perturbation approach that addresses the RDR requirements. The invention also solves the problem of inserting dummy shapes where required, and extending the lengths of the critical shapes and/or the dummy shapes to meet ‘edge coverage’ requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Cam V. Endicott, Fook-Luen Heng, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani Narayan, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 7752589
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for visually indicating the interaction between one or more edges of a design that contribute to a defined critical area pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Sarah C. Braasch, Matthew T. Guzowski, Jason D. Hibbeler, Daniel N. Maynard, Kevin W. McCullen, Evanthia Papadopoulou, Mervyn Y. Tan, Robert F. Walker
  • Patent number: 7735042
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for context aware sub-circuit layout modification are disclosed. The method may include defining at least one context for the sub-circuit for each circuit that uses the sub-circuit; in the case that a plurality of contexts are defined, minimizing a number of contexts for the sub-circuit by combining contexts into at least one stage; placing each stage into a staged layout; and modifying the sub-circuit by modifying the staged layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gray, Matthew T. Guzowski, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 7610565
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for migrating an integrated circuit (IC) design from a source technology without radical design restrictions (RDR) to a target technology with RDR, are disclosed. Also, a method, system and program product for migrating an integrated circuit design from a source technology without RDR to a target technology with RDR in which space may be reserved for late insertion of a feature and in which migration first occurs in a primary compaction direction having less tolerant ground rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Cam V. Endicott, Fook-Luen Heng, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani Narayan, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 7568173
    Abstract: Methods of independently migrating a hierarchical design are disclosed. A method for migrating a macro in an integrated circuit comprises: determining an interface strategy between a base cell in the macro and the macro, the base cell including an interface element involved in the interface strategy; migrating the base cell independently with respect to the macro based on the interface strategy; initially scaling the macro; swapping the migrated base cell into the macro; and legalizing content of the initially scaled macro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veit Gernhoefer, Matthew T. Guzowski, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Rani Narayan, Stephen L. Runyon, Leon J. Sigal, Robert F. Walker, Pieter J. Woeltgens, Xiaoyun K. Wu, Xin Yuan
  • Publication number: 20090158223
    Abstract: An adaptive weighting method for layout optimization differentiates different priorities by assigning the weight of a higher priority (pi) to be multiple of the weight of a lower priority (pi?1) where W(pi)=mi % W(pi?1. To avoid numerical imprecision, this method keeps the total cost in the objective function within a trustable range by scaling the initial weights in the objectives, while maintaining relativity, to produce the scaled weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael S. Gray, Matthew T. Guzowski, Kevin W. McCullen, Xiaoping Tang, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan
  • Patent number: 7543252
    Abstract: Method, system and program product for migrating an integrated circuit (IC) layout for, for example, alternating aperture phase shift masks (AltPSM), are disclosed. In order to migrate a layout to phase compliance, jogs are identified on a first (AltPSM) layer and shifted to another second layer. Isolated or clustered jogs are shifted into an open channel portions on the second layer where possible. Remaining clustered jogs are shifted into as few new channels as possible on the second layer. The jog removal process leaves unidirectional wires that can be trivially phase colored. Standard technology migration techniques are then used to legalize the results on the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin W. McCullen
  • Publication number: 20090106727
    Abstract: A method of laying out features for alternating aperture phase shift masks. The method includes defining features on a grid of a uniform basic pitch, orienting the features such that those of the features defined, at least in part, by phase shifting shapes are oriented along a primary direction, and spacing two features terminating adjacent one another such that the two features have space between them sufficient to prevent phase conflicts if both of the two features are defined, at least in part, by phase shifting shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin W. McCULLEN
  • Publication number: 20090037851
    Abstract: A method, system and program product for context aware sub-circuit layout modification are disclosed. The method may include defining at least one context for the sub-circuit for each circuit that uses the sub-circuit; in the case that a plurality of contexts are defined, minimizing a number of contexts for the sub-circuit by combining contexts into at least one stage; placing each stage into a staged layout; and modifying the sub-circuit by modifying the staged layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Michael S. Gray, Matthew T. Guzowski, Jason D. Hibbeler, Kevin W. McCullen, Robert F. Walker, Xin Yuan