Hierarchical visualization-based analysis of integrated circuits
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- formatting for display on a computer screen a layout of an integrated circuit design in a two-dimensional view, wherein the integrated circuit design is specified in a design database, the layout comprises multiple layers, and in the two-dimensional view, layers of the layout overlap when two or more layers cross each other on the screen;
using a computer, allowing a user to identify a portion of the layout of the integrated circuit design using a pointer;
using a computer, providing an option for the user to enable a three-dimensional view of the layout;
after enabling the three-dimensional view option by the user, formatting for display on the screen at least the portion of the layout identified by the user in a three-dimensional view;
allowing the user to specify a feature of the layout and allowing the user to request showing that feature using multiple colors in the three-dimensional view based on a property associated with the feature, wherein for a feature or portion of a feature havinga property value below a value V1, using a first color,the property value above the value V1, using a second color, and the first and second colors are different.
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Abstract
A system or technique provides for a hierarchical visual-based analysis of electrical integrated circuit system simulation results. A three-dimensional or 3D visualization may be used to identify and conduct an analysis of the integrated circuit. An analysis is done on a specific feature of the integrated circuit that is visible in the three-dimensional visualization. The specific feature may be one that is obscured by other layers of the integrated circuit visualization.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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formatting for display on a computer screen a layout of an integrated circuit design in a two-dimensional view, wherein the integrated circuit design is specified in a design database, the layout comprises multiple layers, and in the two-dimensional view, layers of the layout overlap when two or more layers cross each other on the screen; using a computer, allowing a user to identify a portion of the layout of the integrated circuit design using a pointer; using a computer, providing an option for the user to enable a three-dimensional view of the layout; after enabling the three-dimensional view option by the user, formatting for display on the screen at least the portion of the layout identified by the user in a three-dimensional view; allowing the user to specify a feature of the layout and allowing the user to request showing that feature using multiple colors in the three-dimensional view based on a property associated with the feature, wherein for a feature or portion of a feature having a property value below a value V1, using a first color, the property value above the value V1, using a second color, and the first and second colors are different. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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14. A method comprising:
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formatting for display on a computer screen a layout of an integrated circuit design in a two-dimensional view, wherein the integrated circuit design is specified in a design database, the layout comprises multiple layers, and in the two-dimensional view, layers of the layout overlap when two or more layers cross each other on the screen; using a computer, allowing a user to identify a portion of the layout of the integrated circuit design using a pointer; using a computer, providing an option for the user to enable a three-dimensional view of the layout; after enabling the three-dimensional view option by the user, formatting for display on the screen at least the portion of the layout identified by the user in a three-dimensional view; in the three-dimensional view, allowing the user to select a feature on the screen with the pointer and allowing the user to request showing a property associated with that selected feature; displaying a value for the property of the selected feature on the screen; and displaying portions of the features of the layout of the integrated circuit using multiple colors, wherein for features having a property value of a feature of the layout in a range from a value V1 to a value V2, using a first color, the property value in a range from a value V3 to a value V4, using a second color, and the property value in a range from a value V5 to a value V6, using a third color, wherein the first, second, and third colors are different from each other, and V6 is greater than V5, which is greater than V4, which is greater than V3, which is greater than V2, which is greater than V1. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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17. A method comprising:
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formatting for display on a computer screen a layout of an integrated circuit design in a two-dimensional view, wherein the integrated circuit design is specified in a design database, the layout comprises multiple layers, and in the two-dimensional view, layers of the layout overlap when two or more layers cross each other on the screen; in the two-dimensional view, allowing the user to identify a portion of the layout of the integrated circuit design using a pointer; providing an option for the user to enable a three-dimensional view of the layout; after enabling the three-dimensional view option, formatting for display on the screen at least the portion of the layout identified by the user in a three-dimensional view; allowing the user to specify a feature of the layout on the screen with the pointer and request showing that feature using multiple colors in the three-dimensional view based on a property associated with the feature, wherein for a feature or portion of a feature having a property value below a value V1, using a first color, the property value above the value V1, using a second color, and the first and second colors are different, and the property is at least one of a voltage, current, or IR drop that has been determined by way of a circuit simulation.
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18. A method comprising:
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formatting for display on a computer screen a layout of an integrated circuit design in a two-dimensional view, wherein the integrated circuit design is specified in a design database, the layout comprises multiple layers, and in the two-dimensional view, layers of the layout overlap when two or more layers cross each other on the screen; in the two-dimensional view, allowing the user to identify a portion of the layout of the integrated circuit design using a pointer; providing an option for the user to enable a three-dimensional view of the layout; after enabling the three-dimensional view option, formatting for display on the screen at least the portion of the layout identified by the user in a three-dimensional view; allowing the user to specify a feature of the layout to be displayed on the screen using multiple colors in the three-dimensional view, wherein for a feature or portion of a feature having a property value having a first value, using a first color, the property value having a second value, using a second color, the first and second property values are different, and the first and second colors are different, and the property comprises an IR drop. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification