Patents by Inventor Phillip P. Normand

Phillip P. Normand 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: 8826214
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing an enhanced Z-directional macro port assignment or three-dimensional port creation for random logic macros of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuit chips. An initial port placement is provided on a layer for a macro. The initial port placement is expanded to provide a three-dimensional port shape including a plurality of metal layers along a z-axis. Wire routing of each of the macro level and a chip top level is defined within the expanded three-dimensional port shape. Each unnecessary metal layer of the expanded three-dimensional port shape is removed, providing a final three-dimensional port shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Ellavsky, Sean T. Evans, Timothy D. Helvey, Phillip P. Normand, II, Jason L. Van Vreede, Bradley C. White
  • Patent number: 8689170
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a buffer bay is represented with a moveable object that has a location within a unit in a netlist. The location of the moveable object that represents the buffer bay is changed to a new location in the netlist if changing the location improves placement within the unit. In an embodiment, a net weight of a net that connects the moveable object to an artificial pin is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location. In an embodiment a bounding area that encompasses the location is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Ellavsky, Sean T. Evans, Timothy D. Helvey, Phillip P. Normand, Jason L. VanVreede, Bradley C. White
  • Patent number: 8448121
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing an enhanced Z-directional macro port assignment or three-dimensional port creation for random logic macros of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuit chips. An initial port placement is provided on a layer for a macro. The initial port placement is expanded to provide a three-dimensional port shape including a plurality of metal layers along a z-axis. Wire routing of each of the macro level and a chip top level is defined within the expanded three-dimensional port shape. Each unnecessary metal layer of the expanded three-dimensional port shape is removed, providing a final three-dimensional port shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Ellavsky, Sean T. Evans, Timothy D. Helvey, Phillip P. Normand, Jason L. Van Vreede, Bradley C. White
  • Patent number: 8413104
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a buffer bay is represented with a moveable object that has a location within a unit in a netlist. The location of the moveable object that represents the buffer bay is changed to a new location in the netlist if changing the location improves placement within the unit. In an embodiment, a net weight of a net that connects the moveable object to an artificial pin is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location. In an embodiment a bounding area that encompasses the location is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Ellavsky, Sean T. Evans, Timothy D. Helvey, Phillip P. Normand, Jason L. Van Vreede, Bradley C. White
  • Publication number: 20130042214
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing an enhanced Z-directional macro port assignment or three-dimensional port creation for random logic macros of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuit chips. An initial port placement is provided on a layer for a macro. The initial port placement is expanded to provide a three-dimensional port shape including a plurality of metal layers along a z-axis. Wire routing of each of the macro level and a chip top level is defined within the expanded three-dimensional port shape. Each unnecessary metal layer of the expanded three-dimensional port shape is removed, providing a final three-dimensional port shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew R. Ellavsky, Sean T. Evans, Timothy D. Helvey, Phillip P. Normand, Jason L. Van Vreede, Bradley C. White
  • Patent number: 8356264
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for implementing enhanced clock tree distributions to decouple across N-level hierarchical entities of an integrated circuit chip. Local clock tree distributions are constructed. Top clock tree distributions are constructed. Then constructing and routing a top clock tree is provided. The local clock tree distributions and the top clock tree distributions are independently constructed, each using an equivalent local clock distribution of high performance buffers to balance the clock block regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Lasher, Daniel R. Menard, Phillip P. Normand
  • Publication number: 20120290995
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a buffer bay is represented with a moveable object that has a location within a unit in a netlist. The location of the moveable object that represents the buffer bay is changed to a new location in the netlist if changing the location improves placement within the unit. In an embodiment, a net weight of a net that connects the moveable object to an artificial pin is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location. In an embodiment a bounding area that encompasses the location is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew R. Ellavsky, Sean T. Evans, Timothy D. Helvey, Phillip P. Normand, Jason L. Van Vreede, Bradley C. White
  • Publication number: 20120110533
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for implementing enhanced clock tree distributions to decouple across N-level hierarchical entities of an integrated circuit chip. Local clock tree distributions are constructed. Top clock tree distributions are constructed. Then constructing and routing a top clock tree is provided. The local clock tree distributions and the top clock tree distributions are independently constructed, each using an equivalent local clock distribution of high performance buffers to balance the clock block regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark R. Lasher, Daniel R. Menard, Phillip P. Normand
  • Patent number: 6990645
    Abstract: A method of analysis of an integrated circuit design having multiple voltage islands, including: (a) determining a clock path through the voltage islands; (b) determining a data path through the voltage islands; (c) determining which voltage islands are independent voltage islands; (d) determining which voltage islands are dependent voltage islands; (e) for the data path and the clock path, performing a worst case static timing analysis based on minimum and maximum operating voltages of each independent and dependent voltage island in the data and clock paths; and (f) for the data path and the clock path, performing a best case static timing analysis based on minimum and maximum operating voltages of each independent and dependent voltage island in the data and clock paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susan K. Lichtensteiger, Phillip P. Normand, Timothy M. Platt
  • Publication number: 20040221252
    Abstract: A method of analysis of an integrated circuit design having multiple voltage islands, including: (a) determining a clock path through the voltage islands; (b) determining a data path through the voltage islands; (c) determining which voltage islands are independent voltage islands; (d) determining which voltage islands are dependent voltage islands; (e) for the data path and the clock path, performing a worst case static timing analysis based on minimum and maximum operating voltages of each independent and dependent voltage island in the data and clock paths; and (f) for the data path and the clock path, performing a best case static timing analysis based on minimum and maximum operating voltages of each independent and dependent voltage island in the data and clock paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susan K. Lichtensteiger, Phillip P. Normand, Timothy M. Platt