Automatic trace determination method and apparatus for automatically determining optimal trace positions on substrate using computation

• US 20060071322A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kitamura, Tamotsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/692
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/18 Chip packaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/394 Routing G06F30/396 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatic trace determination apparatus for automatically determining optimal positions of traces from pads to corresponding vias on a substrate using computation comprises: tentative determination means for tentatively determining a tentative target line with which tentative positions of bending points of traces are aligned; and final determination means for determining a final target line by correcting the tentative target line so that at least clearances between the adjacent traces and between the traces and vias adjacent to the corresponding traces can be secured, wherein the positions of intersection of the determined final target line and the traces from the pads are determined as bending points of the traces.

Claims

1. An automatic trace determination apparatus for automatically determining optimal positions of traces from pads to corresponding vias on a substrate using computation comprises:

tentative determination means for tentatively determining a tentative target line with which tentative positions of bending points of traces are aligned; and

final determination means for determining a final target line by correcting said tentative target line so that at least clearances between said adjacent traces and between said traces and vias adjacent to said corresponding traces can be secured,

wherein the positions of intersection of said determined final target line and said traces from the pads are determined as bending points of said traces.

2. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving means that, when clearances between said traces passing through bending points on a target line specified arbitrarily and adjacent vias cannot be secured, moves said specified target line in the opposite direction to that in which said minimum traces are drawn out so that at least the clearances can be secured; and

replacement means that replaces a portion of said final target line determined by said final determination means with a portion of said specified target line that can secure said clearances or that is moved to secure at least said clearances that cannot be otherwise secured and that is farther from said pads in the direction in which said minimum traces are drawn out than said final target line determined by said final determination means and determines the latter as a portion of a new final target line.

3. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tentative determination means further comprises:

selection means that, when coordinates of end portions of specific minimum traces drawn out in a specific identical direction from respective pads with respect to the direction in which said minimum traces are drawn out are defined as those of the highest points, selects segments that are farthest from said pads with respect to the direction in which said minimum traces are drawn out; and

generation means that generates said tentative target line by connecting said segments selected by said selection means.

4. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tentative determination means further comprises:

first extension means for extending said minimum traces drawn out in a direction different from said specific identical direction in said different direction to a position that can maintain clearances from other of said minimum traces; and

second extension means for bending said minimum traces extended by said first extension means in said specific identical direction at positions where said clearances can be maintained and, then, extending said minimum traces up to said tentative target line.

5. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said final determination means further comprises:

first checking means for checking whether clearances between said adjacent traces can be secured when the traces from said minimum traces are bent at said bending points on said tentative target line; and

correction means for correcting said tentative target line by moving it in the direction in which said minimum traces are drawn out so that at least said clearances can be secured at said bending points when it is determined that said clearances cannot be secured by said first checking means.

6. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said final determination means further comprises third extension means for extending said minimum traces up to said corrected tentative target line obtained by said correction means.

7. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said final determination means further comprises:

second checking means for determining whether clearances between said traces and said vias adjacent to said traces can be secured or not when the traces from said minimum traces are bent at said bending points on said tentative target line;

first computation means for calculating a returning distance in the opposite direction to that in which said minimum traces are drawn out that is required for securing said clearances when it is determined that said clearances cannot be secured by said second checking means; and

second calculation means for calculating a starting point of said new tentative target line that can secure said necessary returning distance and that coincides with a bending point of at least one of said minimum traces,

and wherein an operation similar to that in said tentative determination means is performed again with respect to said new tentative target line having said starting point calculated by said second calculation means and an operation similar to that in said final determination means is performed again with respect to said new tentative target line obtained by performing again the operation in said tentative determination means so that said final target line is generated.

8. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first calculation means calculated said returning distance based on:

a first parameter that is a summation of extended lengths of said minimum traces when said minimum traces are extended up to said tentative target line tentatively determined so that at least said clearances between the traces can be secured;

a second parameter that is a coordinate of intersection of said tentative target line tentatively determined by said tentative determination means and said extended minimum trace that is subject to clearance check in the direction in which said minimum trace is drawn out; and

a third parameter that is a coordinate of a position that can at least secure clearance from the via that is a reference for checking the clearance by said second checking means in the direction in which said minimum trace is drawn out.

9. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first calculation means calculates said returning distance by subtracting said first and second parameters from said third parameter.

10. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both ends of a series of pads aligned substantially in a line are defined as starting points of computation to perform operations by said tentative determination means and said final determination means so that said final target line can be determined.

11. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an adjustment means that, when intersection of said two final target lines obtained by performing the operations by said tentative determination means and said final determination means from said both ends of said series of pads are not aligned with any of said minimum traces, one of said final target lines is further bent at a position where the other of said final target lines turns its direction so that one of said final target lines coincides with the other of said final target lines on one of said minimum traces.

12. An automatic trace determination apparatus for automatically determining optimal positions of traces from pads to corresponding vias on a substrate using computation, wherein

a target line with which bending points of the traces should be aligned is determined and positions of intersections of said determined target line and the traces from said pads are determined as bending points of the traces.

13. An automatic trace determination apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

selection means that, when end portions of specific minimum traces drawn out from said pads in a specific identical direction are defined as highest points, selects segments that connect said highest points and that are farthest from said pads with respect to the direction in which said minimum traces are drawn out; and

generation means that generates said target line by connecting said segments selected by said selection means.