Method and apparatus for solving an optimization problem in an integrated circuit layout
First Claim
1. A method of solving an optimization problem that includes a plurality of elements in an integrated circuit (“
- IC”
) layout, wherein one or more solutions are identified for each element in the plurality of elements, the method comprising;
a) specifying a first solution set that has one identified solution for each element in the plurality of elements, wherein each element is a net in the IC layout;
b) selecting a first element; and
c) in the first solution set, replacing a current solution for the first element with another identified solution for the first element if the replacement would improve the first solution set.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of solving an optimization problem. The problem includes a plurality of elements, and one or more solutions have been previously identified for each element. The method specifies a first solution set that has one identified solution for each element. In some embodiments, the method then iteratively examines all the elements of the problem. During the examination of each particular element, the method iteratively examines all the identified solutions for the particular element. During the examination of each particular solution, the method replaces the current solution for the particular element in the first solution set with a previously unexamined solution for the particular element if the replacement would improve the first set.
138 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of solving an optimization problem that includes a plurality of elements in an integrated circuit (“
- IC”
) layout, wherein one or more solutions are identified for each element in the plurality of elements, the method comprising;a) specifying a first solution set that has one identified solution for each element in the plurality of elements, wherein each element is a net in the IC layout; b) selecting a first element; and c) in the first solution set, replacing a current solution for the first element with another identified solution for the first element if the replacement would improve the first solution set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- IC”
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15. A computer readable medium that stores a computer program which when executed by a processor solves an optimization problem that includes a plurality of elements in an integrated circuit (“
- IC”
) layout, wherein one or more solutions are identified for each element in the plurality of elements, the computer program comprising executable sets of instructions that perform the steps of;a) specifying a first solution set that has one identified solution for each element in the plurality of elements, wherein each element is a net in the IC layout; b) selecting a first element; and c) in the first solution set, replacing a current solution for the first element with another identified solution for the first element if the replacement would improve the first solution set. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- IC”
Specification