Patents by Inventor Robert Mahlon Averill, III

Robert Mahlon Averill, III 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: 11941340
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include methods, systems, and computer program products for integrated circuit development using cross-hierarchy antenna condition verification. A method includes obtaining a design of a hierarchical macro distributed between multiple files for an integrated circuit and analyzing, by a design verification tool, a route between at least one child macro and at least one pin of the hierarchical macro as defined in the files. The method further includes determining, by the design verification tool, a plurality of connection characteristics of the at least one child macro and the at least one pin forming the route and calculating, by the design verification tool, an antenna condition for the route based on the connection characteristics. The design of the hierarchical macro is adjusted to remove a violation of an antenna rule based on determining that the antenna condition of the route violates the antenna rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Bowen, Gerald L Strevig, III, Amanda Christine Venton, Robert Mahlon Averill, III, Adam P. Matheny, David Wolpert, Mitchell R. DeHond
  • Publication number: 20230051392
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include methods, systems, and computer program products for integrated circuit development using cross-hierarchy antenna condition verification. A method includes obtaining a design of a hierarchical macro distributed between multiple files for an integrated circuit and analyzing, by a design verification tool, a route between at least one child macro and at least one pin of the hierarchical macro as defined in the files. The method further includes determining, by the design verification tool, a plurality of connection characteristics of the at least one child macro and the at least one pin forming the route and calculating, by the design verification tool, an antenna condition for the route based on the connection characteristics. The design of the hierarchical macro is adjusted to remove a violation of an antenna rule based on determining that the antenna condition of the route violates the antenna rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Bowen, Gerald L Strevig, III, Amanda Christine Venton, Robert Mahlon Averill, III, Adam P. Matheny, David Wolpert, Mitchell R. DeHond
  • Patent number: 11055465
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for avoiding Boolean DRC failures during cell placement are provided. Aspects include generating a semiconductor layout by filling a plurality of rows within a macro block with cells including functional cells and fill cells. Aspects also include modifying the semiconductor layout by removing one or more fill cells from the macro block to create a gap. Aspects also include examining a set of cells that border edges of the gap to identify one or more predicted rule violations. Based on the identified one or more predicted rule violations, aspects also include modifying the semiconductor layout to change a shape of the gap to avoid the one or more predicted rule violations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Wolpert, Timothy A. Schell, Michael Gray, Erwin Behnen, Robert Mahlon Averill, III
  • Publication number: 20210064719
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for avoiding Boolean DRC failures during cell placement are provided. Aspects include generating a semiconductor layout by filling a plurality of rows within a macro block with cells including functional cells and fill cells. Aspects also include modifying the semiconductor layout by removing one or more fill cells from the macro block to create a gap. Aspects also include examining a set of cells that border edges of the gap to identify one or more predicted rule violations. Based on the identified one or more predicted rule violations, aspects also include modifying the semiconductor layout to change a shape of the gap to avoid the one or more predicted rule violations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: David WOLPERT, Timothy A. SCHELL, Michael GRAY, Erwin BEHNEN, Robert Mahlon AVERILL, III
  • Patent number: 10885260
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for providing fin-based fill cell optimization are provided. Aspects include receiving a semiconductor layout comprising at least a first logic cell, a second logic cell, and a fill cell. A left boundary of the fill cell is adjacent to the first logic cell and a right boundary of the fill cell is adjacent to the second logic cell. Aspects also include determining a number of active left fins, right fins, and active fill cell fins associated with FinFET structures of the first logic cell, second logic cell and fill cell, respectively. Aspects also include comparing the number of active fins to a set of fin rules. Responsive to determining that the semiconductor layout violates the set of fin rules, aspects include modifying the semiconductor layout to change the number of active fill cell fins to satisfy the set of fin rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Wolpert, Timothy A. Schell, Michael Gray, Erwin Behnen, Robert Mahlon Averill, III