Oracle America, Inc.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Dajen Huang

Yi Wu

Robert R Brown

Arjun Dutt

Kalon S Holdbrook

Yu L Zheng

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that routes nets over circuit blocks in a hierarchical circuit design. During operation, the system can receive a set of circuit blocks. At least some terminals of the circuit blocks may be desired to be electrically linked together using a net which is expected to be routed over one or more circuit blocks. The system may divide an area associated with a block (e.g., an area in a metal layer which is situated above the block) into a set of tiles. Next, the system may assign costs to at least some of the tiles in the set of tiles. The system can then use the costs during routing. Note that using the costs of the tiles during routing makes it more likely that buffers can be used wherever required to meet slew and timing requirements.

Routing nets over circuit blocks in a hierarchical circuit design

A method for routing a chip, involving forming a plurality of nets configured to connect components of the chip, wherein each of the plurality of nets is included in a netlist, assigning at least one repeater to each of the plurality of nets in the netlist, wherein the repeaters are assigned prior to performing physical routing of the plurality of nets, inserting the at least one repeater in a corresponding net, wherein the insertion of the at least one repeater divides the corresponding net into at least two subnets, and performing the physical routing of the plurality of nets by connecting each of the subnets.

Repeater driven routing methodology

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for improving the speed of chip routing for integrated circuit blocks with multiple connections. In some embodiments, the method may include creating a layout abstract for a first block and a second block of the integrated circuit, where the first and second blocks are coupled together via a plurality of connections. The method may further include determining whether the number of connections in the plurality exceeds a threshold, and in the event that the number of connections exceeds the predetermined threshold, representing a first subset of the plurality as a first logical connection.

Efficient chip routing method and apparatus for integrated circuit blocks with multiple connections

A number of virtual regionalization lines are laid out across a chip such that the virtual regionalization lines delineate a plurality of regions on the chip. One of the plurality of regions on the chip is designated as a master region and each of a remainder of the plurality of regions on the chip is designated as a duplicate region. A number of functional blocks are placed in the master region. Each of the functional blocks is replicated in each duplicate region by placing each functional block in each duplicate region so as to be symmetric with the corresponding functional block in the master region about the virtual regionalization lines. Wires are routed in the master region. The wires routed in the master region are replicated in each duplicate region so as to be symmetric about the virtual regionalization lines.

Method for place and route of multicore chip

A method for routing wires in an integrated circuit includes defining an even number n of initial width routing tracks in a selected routing channel. The n initial routing tracks are separated by a substantially equal first separation distance from the other routing tracks, Vss and Vdd in the routing channel. The n initial width routing tracks and the first separation distance have an initial width about equal to the minimum design width. An odd number of routing tracks less than n are then selected, the odd number of routing tracks have a second pitch greater than the first pitch, assigning the odd number of routing tracks in the routing channel. A third routing pitch can be defined that is wider than the second routing pitch for alternating routing tracks at the odd number of routing tracks if needed. A wire routing system in an integrated circuit is also described.

System, method and apparatus for optimizing multiple wire pitches in integrated circuit design

A method for inserting repeaters in an integrated circuit includes establishing a set of initial constraints for a given set of buses; assigning at least one repeater corresponding to each of the given set of buses based on the set of initial constraints; progressively relaxing the set of initial constraints to form a new set of constraints for a new set of buses and assigning at least one repeater corresponding to each of the new set of buses based on the new set of constraints; and routing assigned repeaters to each of the new set of buses in the integrated circuit.

Converging repeater methodology for channel-limited SOC microprocessors

A mechanism is disclosed for assigning repeaters to signal paths in an integrated circuit design. The mechanism involves reserving, in a first metal layer of the integrated circuit design, metal tracks for routing signals. Access points to a plurality of repeaters are reserved in a second metal layer of the integrated circuit design. Each access point is associated with a particular repeater. The design may have other layers between the second metal layer and a region reserved for the repeaters. The number of repeaters may be based on the number of metal tracks that are available to route signals through the first region. Signal paths are assigned routes that comprise at least a portion of one or more of the metal tracks. A route from signal paths requiring a repeater to access points to a particular repeater is determined. Thus, the signal paths are assigned to a repeater.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Dajen Huang