Method and system for maintaining hierarchy throughout the integrated circuit design process

• US 6,370,677 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carruthers, Colin, Buchanan, Irene
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): DO, THUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/487,885
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 716/8, 716/11, 716/14
• US Class Current: 716/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/347 Physical level, e.g. placement or routing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/392 Floor-planning or layout, e.g. partitioning or placement

Abstract

A method and system for translating abstract structural or behavioral circuit descriptions to physically implementable files, preferably suitable for use in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable device. A selection of layouts are generated for a cell definition (a function), allowing optimization and acceleration of circuit placement and routing without compromising design hierarchy or altering design function. Layout transformation functions may be manually initiated or automtically selected and applied during implementation of a placement algorithm.

Claims

1. A method of using alternative layouts for various instances of cell definition in a configurable architecture, the method comprising:

creating a default cell definition layout;

applying a transformation constant to the default cell definition layout, thereby creating a transformed cell layout; and

integrating the default cell definition layout and the transformed cell layout into an algorithm for placement and routing of a user'"'"'s design in the configurable architecture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying includes:

rotating the default cell definition layout by a

predetermined number of degrees.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined number of degrees is a multiple of 45.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying includes:

reflecting the default cell definition layout about a predetermined degree line.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined degree line is a multiple of 45.