Abstract: A method is provided for designing an integrated circuit that includes receiving a graphical description of the integrated circuit, extracting shapes relating to a specific circuit function from the graphical description of the integrated circuit, and partitioning the extracted shapes into a plurality of segments. The method may form an electrical representation of the integrated circuit for each of the plurality of segments and solve a matrix equation (Gv=i) for each of the plurality of segments based on the electrical representation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit having improved defect-limited yield. Each conductor on the integrated circuit is represented as an electrical element of a network, having branch voltages and currents. The width of the conductor is advantageously selected to have the minimum width necessary to produce signal levels that have sufficient noise margins. An integrated circuit conductive grid is thus realized having a reduced cross sectional area along a portion of various conductor element lengths, to reduce the risk that particles produced during manufacturing will result in bridging of adjacent conductor elements.