Block placement method

• US 4,964,057 A
• Filed: 07/27/1989
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yabe, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trans, V. N.
• Application Number:
  US07/386,002
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 364/488, 364/489, 364/490, 364/491
• US Class Current: 716/123
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/392 Floor-planning or layout, e.g. partitioning or placement

Abstract

A block placement method and system for automatically placing a plurality of blocks on a substrate. A temporary groundwork design is established which does not contain a block placement inhibited area, such area being reserved from power lines. Initially, the blocks are placed upon the temporary groundwork design in a provisional groundwork design. An extended block is obtained upon inserting a block placement inhibited areas into the provisional groundwork design. Wiring is routed within the extended block on a placed substrate.

Claims

1. A block placement method for automatically placing a plurality of blocks on a substrate, wherein the method includes the steps of:

a temporary groundwork design step for designing a temporary groundwork design which does not contain a block placement inhibited area but has an identifiable location for said area;

a provisional groundwork design step for initially placing said blocks upon said temporary groundwork design designed by said temporary groundwork design step and subsequently improving the initial block placement, at least one block being placed over said identifiable location;

a placed substrate design step for inserting, at said identifiable location, said block placement inhibited area into the provisional groundwork design designed by said provisional groundwork design step so as to obtain an extended block having separated portions; and

a routing design step for routing wiring within said extended block, between said separated portions, on a substrate designed by said placed substrate design step.

2. A block placement system for automatically placing a plurality of blocks on a substrate, wherein the system includes:

temporary groundwork design means for designing a temporary groundwork design which does not contain a block placement inhibited area but has an identifiable location for said area;

provisional groundwork design means for initially placing said blocks upon said temporary groundwork design designed by said temporary groundwork design means and subsequently improving the initial block placement, at least one block being placed over said identifiable location;

placed substrate design means for inserting, at said identifiable location, said block placement inhibited area into the provisional groundwork design designed by said provisional groundwork design means so as to obtain an extended block having separated portions; and

routing design means for routing wiring within said extended block, between said separated portions, on a placed substrate designed by said placed substrate designed means.