Method and apparatus for pre-computing routes
First Claim
1. A method of pre-computing routes for nets in a region of a circuit layout, the method comprising:
- a) defining a set of partitioning lines for partitioning the region into a plurality of sub-regions during a routing operation;
b) identifying a primary set of sub-regions that has more than one sub-region;
c) determining whether the primary set of sub-regions is an open set that has a sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set; and
d) if the primary set of sub-regions is not an open set, identifying a route that connects the sub-regions in the primary set; and
storing the identified route for the primary set of sub-regions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments provide a method of pre-computing routes for nets in a region of a circuit layout. The method initially defines a set of partitioning lines for partitioning the region into a plurality of sub-regions during a routing operation. The method then identifies a primary set of sub-regions that has more than one sub-region. It then determines whether the primary set of sub-regions is an open set that has a sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set. If the primary set of sub-regions is not an open set, the method identifies a route that connects the sub-regions in the primary set, and stores the identified route for the primary set of sub-regions. On the other hand, if the primary set of sub-regions is an open set, the method identifies a connection set of sub-regions that when combined with the primary set forms a closed set of sub-regions that (i) does not have any sub-region that is not adjacent to another sub-region in the closed set, and (ii) can be traversed by a minimum tree route that connects each sub-region in the connection set to at least two other sub-regions in the primary and connection sets of sub-regions. For the primary set of sub-regions, the method then stores at least either the connection set of sub-regions or the closed set of sub-regions.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of pre-computing routes for nets in a region of a circuit layout, the method comprising:
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a) defining a set of partitioning lines for partitioning the region into a plurality of sub-regions during a routing operation;
b) identifying a primary set of sub-regions that has more than one sub-region;
c) determining whether the primary set of sub-regions is an open set that has a sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set; and
d) if the primary set of sub-regions is not an open set, identifying a route that connects the sub-regions in the primary set; and
storing the identified route for the primary set of sub-regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of pre-computing routes for nets in a layout region that is partitioned into a plurality of sub-regions, the method comprising:
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a) identifying a primary set of sub-regions that has more than one sub-region;
b) when the primary set of sub-regions is not an open set that has a sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set, identifying and storing a route that connects the sub-regions in the primary set; and
c) when the primary set of sub-regions is an open set that has a sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set, storing a set of indicia that enables the generation of a route for the primary set during a routing operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer readable medium that stores a computer program for pre-computing routes for nets in a layout region that is partitioned into a plurality of sub-regions, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:
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a) identifying a primary set of sub-regions that has more than one sub-region;
b) when the primary set of sub-regions is not an open set that has a sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set, identifying and storing a route that connects the sub-regions in the primary set; and
c) when the primary set of sub-regions is an open set that has sub-region that is not adjacent to any other sub-region in the set, storing a set of indicia that enables the generation of a route for the primary set during a routing operation.
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Specification