Decision modules
First Claim
1. An automated method of defining a physical design for an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:
- at a computer, receiving an abstract circuit representation of the IC design comprising a plurality of segments, wherein a particular segment of the abstract circuit representation comprises a decision module that comprises a plurality of alternative implementations for performing functionality of the particular segment;
selecting a particular alternative implementation from the plurality of alternative implementations of the decision module; and
at a computer, placing the particular segment based on the selected particular alternative implementation in the physical design for the IC.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An abstract decision module primitive for placement within a logical representation (i.e., a netlist) of a circuit design is described. The decision module primitive receives as inputs alternative solutions for a given function or segment of a netlist. The alternative solutions include functionally equivalent, but structurally different implementations of the function or segment of the netlist. The decision module primitive alternatively selects between connecting one of the inputs to the netlist to provide a complete functional definition for the netlist based on constraint information.
The selected input of the decision module may be updated as additional constraint information is determined throughout the various stages of the design process. In addition, alternative solutions for a given function or segment of the netlist may be added to and/or removed from the inputs of a decision module as additional constraint information is identified.
79 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated method of defining a physical design for an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:
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at a computer, receiving an abstract circuit representation of the IC design comprising a plurality of segments, wherein a particular segment of the abstract circuit representation comprises a decision module that comprises a plurality of alternative implementations for performing functionality of the particular segment; selecting a particular alternative implementation from the plurality of alternative implementations of the decision module; and at a computer, placing the particular segment based on the selected particular alternative implementation in the physical design for the IC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory machine readable medium for storing a program for defining a physical design for an integrated circuit (IC), the program comprising sets of instructions for:
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receiving, at a computer, a netlist of the IC design comprising a plurality of components, wherein a particular component of the netlist comprises a decision module for providing a plurality of alternative implementations for the particular component; selecting a particular alternative implementation from the plurality of alternative implementations of the decision module; and placing the particular component in the physical design of the IC based on the selected particular alternative implementation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An automated method of defining a physical design for an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:
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receiving, at a computer, an abstract circuit representation of the IC design comprising a plurality of segments, wherein a particular segment of the abstract circuit representation comprises a decision module that provides a plurality of alternative synthesis solutions for performing functionality of the particular segment; identifying a set of physical design constraints for placement of the particular segment; eliminating synthesis solutions of the plurality of alternative synthesis solutions of the decision module that do not satisfy the identified set of physical design constraints; and identifying, at the computer, a placement solution for the particular segment based on the remaining synthesis solutions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification