Abstract: A system is employed for modifying a hierarchical description of a design to reveal the data flow of the design. The modified design provides a more favorable input for block placement. In one embodiment, the modifications includes any one of or a combination of moving hard macros to a higher level of the hierarchical description of the design, flattening modules that are bigger than a threshold, and/or flattening star blocks. Up to three clustering strategies are employed as part of the flattening process, including name-based clustering, external connection based clustering and gate clustering.

Abstract: A system is employed for modifying a hierarchical description of a design to reveal the data flow of the design. The modified design provides a more favorable input for block placement. In one embodiment, the modifications includes any one of or a combination of moving hard macros to a higher level of the hierarchical description of the design, flattening modules that are bigger than a threshold, and/or flattening star blocks. Up to three clustering strategies are employed as part of the flattening process, including name-based clustering, external connection based clustering and gate clustering.