Patents by Inventor Patrick D. Fortner

Patrick D. Fortner 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: 8701075
    Abstract: A method for recursive hierarchical static timing analysis. The method includes accessing a lower-level netlist representing a lower-level block of a circuit design to be realized in physical form, and accessing constraints for the lower-level block. Static timing analysis is performed on the lower-level block. The method includes accessing an upper-level netlist representing an upper-level block of the circuit design to be realized in physical form, and accessing constraints for the upper-level block. Static timing analysis is performed on the upper-level block while incorporating results from the static timing analysis on the lower-level block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Florentin Dartu, Patrick D. Fortner, Kayhan Kucukcakar, Qiuyang Wu
  • Patent number: 8473886
    Abstract: A static timing analysis (STA) technique including a main process and a parallel process is described. In the main process, an IC design can be loaded and then linked to a cell library. Timing constraints to be applied to the IC design can be loaded. A timing update for the IC design can be performed. A report based on the timing update can be output. In the parallel process, the interconnect parasitics can be back-annotated onto the IC design. In one embodiment, the interconnect parasitics can be processed and stored on disk. Information on attaching to the stored parasitic data can be generated and provided to the main process during the step of performing the timing update. The parallel process can run concurrently and asynchronously with the main process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramanyam Sripada, Qiuyang Wu, Patrick D. Fortner
  • Patent number: 8443328
    Abstract: A method for recursive hierarchical static timing analysis. The method includes accessing a lower-level netlist representing a lower-level block of a circuit design to be realized in physical form, and accessing constraints for the lower-level block. Static timing analysis is performed on the lower-level block. The method includes accessing an upper-level netlist representing an upper-level block of the circuit design to be realized in physical form, and accessing constraints for the upper-level block. Static timing analysis is performed on the upper-level block while incorporating results from the static timing analysis on the lower-level block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Florentin Dartu, Patrick D. Fortner, Kayhan Kucukcakar, Qiuyang Wu
  • Publication number: 20120066656
    Abstract: A static timing analysis (STA) technique including a main process and a parallel process is described. In the main process, an IC design can be loaded and then linked to a cell library. Timing constraints to be applied to the IC design can be loaded. A timing update for the IC design can be performed. A report based on the timing update can be output. In the parallel process, the interconnect parasitics can be back-annotated onto the IC design. In one embodiment, the interconnect parasitics can be processed and stored on disk. Information on attaching to the stored parasitic data can be generated and provided to the main process during the step of performing the timing update. The parallel process can run concurrently and asynchronously with the main process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramanyam Sripada, Qiuyang Wu, Patrick D. Fortner
  • Publication number: 20110307850
    Abstract: A method for recursive hierarchical static timing analysis. The method includes accessing a lower-level netlist representing a lower-level block of a circuit design to be realized in physical form, and accessing constraints for the lower-level block. Static timing analysis is performed on the lower-level block. The method includes accessing an upper-level netlist representing an upper-level block of the circuit design to be realized in physical form, and accessing constraints for the upper-level block. Static timing analysis is performed on the upper-level block while incorporating results from the static timing analysis on the lower-level block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: SYNOPSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Florentin Dartu, Patrick D. Fortner, Kayhan Kucukcakar, Qiuyang Wu
  • Patent number: 4912664
    Abstract: The method of mesh generation comprises a two-step automatic process that requires no user input once a geometric representation of the object has been provided to the apparatus. In the method, the object geometry is first defined in terms of object (subdomain) points, wherein each subdomain is a separate geometric region of the object such as a printed circuit board, a hole in the board, and a component mounted on the board. Bounding points defining a frame around the object geometry are then generated for producing a mesh consisting of at least one element. From the object points and the bounding points an initial mesh of elements is automatically generated according to a unique algorithm. In the second step of the process, each element in this mesh is then individually examined to determine if it meets a predetermined standard of acceptability and, if not, is refined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Weiss, Patrick D. Fortner