Producing a net topology pattern as a constraint upon routing of signal paths in an integrated circuit design

• US 8,806,405 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cadence Design Systems Incorporated (Cadence Group)
• Original Assignee: Cadence Design Systems Incorporated (Cadence Group)
• Inventors: Colwell, Regis, Ginetti, Arnold, ElGalaind, Khalid, Jordan, Thomas, Martinez, Jose A., Markham, Jeffrey, Riley, Steven, Yang, Chung-Do
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Thuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ngo, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/665,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20140123094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 716/55, 716/101, 716/102, 716/110, 716/126, 716/139
• US Class Current: 716/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/394 Routing G06F30/396 takes precedence

Abstract

A method is provided to produce a constraint information for use to implement a routing process used to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design comprising: producing a net topology pattern structure that corresponds to a logical net that is associated with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure.

Claims

1. A method to produce in a computer readable storage device constraint information for use by a computer configured to implement a routing process used to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design comprising:

producing, by using the computer, a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least one or more instance item structures.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the trunk attribute information indicates a physical position of the trunk structure within a routing channel region relative to the at least one or more instance item structures.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multiple constituent structures includes a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least one or more instance item structures;

and

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and at least one of the at least two instance item structures.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the twig structure is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the twig structure relative to at least one of the at least two instance item structures.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the twig attribute information indicates a physical position of the twig structure within a routing channel region relative to at least one of the at least two instance item structures aligned along the channel region.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the at least one functional design structure stored in the device is not physically placed in the design when the act of producing occurs.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multiple constituent structures includes trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that defines a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a first twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and one of the at least two instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a second twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and another of the at least two instance item structures.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that defines a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a strap structure that indicates a physical connection between the at least two instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include at least one twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and strap structure.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a first trunk structure and a second trunk structure;

wherein the first trunk structure is associated that in the device with first attribute information that defines a physical position of the first trunk structure relative to at least one of the two instance item structures;

wherein the second trunk structure is associated that in the device with second attribute information that defines a physical position of the second trunk structure relative to at least another of the two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a trunk connection structure that defines a connection between the first trunk structure and a second trunk structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a first twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the first trunk structure and the at least one of the at least two instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a second twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the second trunk structure and the at least another of the at least two instance item structures.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the device with attribute information that defines a physical position of the first trunk structure relative to the second trunk structure.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein producing the net topology pattern structure includes receiving by a computer instructions to assemble multiple constituent display objects on a display screen that correspond to the multiple constituent structures to produce a graphical net topology pattern display on the display screen.

13. The method of claim 12 further including:

receiving input to the computer that indicates attribute information associated with respective constituent display objects of the graphical net topology pattern display; and

associating the received input in the device with respective corresponding constituent structures.

14. The method of claim 12 further including:

displaying on the display screen at least two instance item display objects that correspond to the at least two instance item structures of the at least one functional design structure;

wherein the topology pattern display includes one or more constituent display objects that connect with the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

15. The method of claim 14 further including:

automatically adjusting a display of one or more constituent display objects that connect with one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen to stay connected in response to a change in location or size of the one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

16. A method to produce in a computer readable storage device constraint information for use by a computer configured to implement a routing process used to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design comprising:

receiving by a computer, instructions to assemble multiple constituent graphical display objects on a display screen to produce a graphical net topology pattern display that represents a logical net that is associated within the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern display shows connections between one or more of its constituent graphical display objects and at least two instance item display objects shown on a display screen that represent the at least two instance item structures stored in the storage device;

in response to the assembling of the topology pattern display on the display screen, producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and that includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

17. The method of claim 16 further including:

automatically adjusting a display of one or more constituent display objects that connect with one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen to stay connected in response to a change in location or size of the one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

18. The method of claim 16 further including:

receiving input to the computer that indicates attribute information associated with respective constituent display objects of the graphical net topology pattern display; and

associating the received input in the device with respective corresponding constituent structures.

19. The method of claim 16,

wherein the multiple constituent display objects include a trunk display object that corresponds to the trunk structure;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects include a twig display object that connects the trunk display object with at least one of the at least two instance item display objects;

wherein the multiple constituent structures includes a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least one instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and the at least one of the instance item structures.

20. The method of claim 16,

wherein the multiple constituent structures includes trunk display object that corresponds to the trunk structure;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects further include a first twig display object that connects the trunk display object and one of the at least two instance item display objects;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects further include a second twig display object that connects the trunk display object and another of the at least two instance item display objects

wherein the multiple constituent structures includes trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that defines a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a first twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and one of the at least two instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a second twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and another of the at least two instance item structures.

21. The method of claim 16,

wherein the multiple constituent display objects include a trunk display object that corresponds to the trunk structure;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects further include a strap display object that connects the at least two instance item display objects;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects further include at least one twig display object that connects the trunk display object and strap display object

wherein the multiple constituent structures include trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that defines a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a strap structure that indicates a physical connection between the at least two instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include at least one twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and strap structure.

22. The method of claim 16,

wherein the multiple constituent display object include a first trunk display object that corresponds to the first trunk structure and include a second trunk display object that corresponds to the second trunk structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a second twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the second trunk structure and the at least another of the at least two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects further include a trunk connection display object that connects first trunk display object and a second trunk display object;

wherein the multiple constituent display object further include a first twig display object that connects the first trunk display object and the at least one of the at least two instance item display objects; and

wherein the multiple constituent display objects further include a second twig display object that connects the second trunk display object and the at least another of the at least two instance item display objects;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a first trunk structure and a second trunk structure;

wherein the first trunk structure is associated that in the device with first attribute information that defines a physical position of the first trunk structure relative to at least one of the two instance item structures;

wherein the second trunk structure is associated that in the device with second attribute information that defines a physical position of the second trunk structure relative to at least another of the two instance item structures;

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a trunk connection structure that defines a connection between the first trunk structure and a second trunk structure; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures further include a first twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the first trunk structure and the at least one of the at least two instance item structures.

23. An article of manufacture that includes a computer readable storage device that includes computer readable code to configure a computer to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising:

producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

24. The article of claim 23

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least one or more instance item structures.

25. The article of claim 24,

wherein the trunk attribute information indicates a physical position of the trunk structure within a routing channel region relative to the at least one or more instance item structures.

26. The article of claim 23,

wherein the at least one functional design structure stored in the device is not physically placed in the design when the act of producing occurs.

27. The article of claim 23,

wherein producing the net topology pattern structure includes receiving by a computer instructions to assemble multiple constituent display objects on a display screen that correspond to the multiple constituent structures to produce a graphical net topology pattern display on the display screen.

28. The article of claim 27 further including:

displaying on the display screen at least two instance item display objects that correspond to the at least two instance item structures of the at least one functional design structure;

wherein the topology pattern display includes one or more constituent display objects that connect with the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

29. The article of claim 28 further including:

automatically adjusting a display of one or more constituent display objects that connect with one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen to stay connected in response to a change in location or size of the one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

30. An article of manufacture that includes a computer readable storage device that includes computer readable an information structure that represents constraint information, the information structure comprising:

a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

31. An article of manufacture that includes a computer readable storage device that includes computer readable code to configure a computer to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising:

receiving by a computer, instructions to assemble multiple constituent graphical display objects on a display screen to produce a graphical net topology pattern display that represents a logical net that is associated within the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern display shows connections between one or more of its constituent graphical display objects and at least two instance item display objects shown on a display screen that represent the at least two instance item structures stored in the storage device;

in response to the assembling of the topology pattern display on the display screen, producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the device that is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and that includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

32. The article of claim 31 further including:

automatically adjusting a display of one or more constituent display objects that connect with one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen to stay connected in response to a change in location or size of the one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

33. The article of claim 31 further including:

receiving input to the computer that indicates attribute information associated with respective constituent display objects of the graphical net topology pattern display; and

associating the received input in the device with respective corresponding constituent structures.

34. The article of claim 31,

wherein the multiple constituent display objects include a trunk display object that corresponds to the trunk structure;

wherein the multiple constituent display objects include a twig display object that connects the trunk display object with at least one of the at least two instance item display objects;

wherein the multiple constituent structures includes a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least one instance item structures; and

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a twig structure that indicates a physical connection between the trunk structure and the at least one of the instance item structures.

35. A system, comprising:

a storage device encoded with information representative of a device design; and

a computing device in communication with the storage device, the computing device configured to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising,

producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the storage device that corresponds to a logical net that is associated in the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern structure is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

36. The system of claim 35,

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that indicates a physical position of the trunk structure relative to the at least one or more instance item structures.

37. The system of claim 35,

wherein producing the net topology pattern structure includes receiving by a computer instructions to assemble multiple constituent display objects on a display screen that correspond to the multiple constituent structures to produce a graphical net topology pattern display on the display screen.

38. The article of claim 37 further including:

displaying on the display screen at least two instance item display objects that correspond to the at least two instance item structures of the at least one functional design structure;

wherein the topology pattern display includes one or more constituent display objects that connect with the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

39. A system, comprising:

a storage device encoded with information representative of a device design; and

a computing device in communication with the storage device, the computing device configured to perform a method to produce constraint information for use by a routing process to generate routing signal lines in an integrated circuit design, the method comprising,

receiving by a computer, instructions to assemble multiple constituent graphical display objects on a display screen to produce a graphical net topology pattern display that represents a logical net that is associated within the storage device with at least two instance item structures of at least one functional design structure stored in the storage device, wherein the net topology pattern display shows connections between one or more of its constituent graphical display objects and at least two instance item display objects shown on a display screen that represent the at least two instance item structures stored in the storage device;

in response to the assembling of the topology pattern display on the display screen, producing a net topology pattern structure stored in the device that is associated in the storage device with the at least two instance item structures and that includes multiple constituent structures that indicate at least one constraint upon physical implementation of the logical net structure;

wherein the multiple constituent structures include a trunk structure that is associated in the device with attribute information that includes a net the trunk structure applies to, a constraint group specifying rules for the trunk structure, and a constraint group specifying default rules for twigs attached to the trunk structure

wherein the trunk structure is an interconnect structure that is oriented in a design to run parallel to a channel in which it is disposed, the twig structure is an interconnect structure that connects a trunk structure to instance item and the twig structure is oriented in a design to run perpendicular to the channel in which it is disposed; and

wherein the channel is a region where the connections between trunk structures and twig structures are made.

40. The system of claim 39 further including:

automatically adjusting a display of one or more constituent display objects that connect with one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen to stay connected in response to a change in location or size of the one or more of the at least two instance item display objects on the display screen.

41. The system of claim 39 further including:

receiving input to the computer that indicates attribute information associated with respective constituent display objects of the graphical net topology pattern display; and

associating the received input in the device with respective corresponding constituent structures.