Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a system that facilitates designing an integrated circuit using a mask-programmable fabric, which contains both mask-programmable logic and a mask-programmable interconnect. During operation, the system receives a description of a mask-programmable cell, wherein instances of the mask-programmable cell are repeated to form the mask-programmable fabric. The system uses this description of the mask-programmable cell to generate a derived library containing cells that can be obtained by programming the mask-programmable cell. Next, the system receives a high-level design for the integrated circuit. The system then performs a synthesis operation on the high-level design to generate a preliminary netlist for the high-level design, wherein the preliminary netlist contains references to cells in the derived library. Finally, the system converts the preliminary netlist into a netlist that contains references to the mask-programmable cell with the logic appropriately programmed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a system for creating a mask-programmable module from standard cells. The system operates by first specifying characteristics of an end design and then selecting a plurality of standard cells from a standard cell library based on the characteristics of the end design. Next, the system combines the plurality of standard cells into a mask-programmable module, wherein instances of the mask-programmable module are repeated to form a mask-programmable fabric. The system also designs a mask-programmable interconnect to match the mask-programmable module, whereby connections within the mask-programmable module and between mask-programmable modules can be generated by programming the mask-programmable interconnect.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a system for creating a mask-programmable module from standard cells. The system operates by first specifying characteristics of an end design and then selecting a plurality of standard cells from a standard cell library based on the characteristics of the end design. Next, the system combines the plurality of standard cells into a mask-programmable module, wherein instances of the mask-programmable module are repeated to form a mask-programmable fabric. The system also designs a mask-programmable interconnect to match the mask-programmable module, whereby connections within the mask-programmable module and between mask-programmable modules can be generated by programming the mask-programmable interconnect.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a system that facilitates designing an integrated circuit using a mask-programmable fabric, which contains both mask-programmable logic and a mask-programmable interconnect. During operation, the system receives a description of a mask-programmable cell, wherein instances of the mask-programmable cell are repeated to form the mask-programmable fabric. The system uses this description of the mask-programmable cell to generate a derived library containing cells that can be obtained by programming the mask-programmable cell. Next, the system receives a high-level design for the integrated circuit. The system then performs a synthesis operation on the high-level design to generate a preliminary netlist for the high-level design, wherein the preliminary netlist contains references to cells in the derived library. Finally, the system converts the preliminary netlist into a netlist that contains references to the mask-programmable cell with the logic appropriately programmed.