Other

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

Signal Integrity Software, Inc.

Walter M Katz

Randall Scott Lawson

Ken Wadland

Sean Bergan

Richard Allen Woodward, Jr

Richard Woodward

Paul S Musto

Greg Horlick

Donald Keith Morgan

Barry S Katz

Wiley Gillmor

Joe Smedley

A method and system that converges on a global solution to a PCB routing problem using iterations of topology-based routing is described. In some embodiments, the geometric design space is abstracted into a topological graph representing the routing problem. Then, each net is allowed to find its optimal solution path independent of the solution paths for all other nets. The electrical and physical constraints of the system are initially ignored or greatly relaxed. Over each design iteration, the constraints are tightened until a complete, global, topological solution is found. Once a topological solution is found, it is converted into a geometric solution. In the event that no geometric solution exists for that topological solution, then the iteration process is resumed taking into consideration this additional information. The result is the ability to quickly autoroute highly-constrained PCB designs with minimal operator input.

Method and mechanism for implementing automated PCB routing

A mechanism is provided for the user to define a circuit design intent or strategy in the form of data that is stored with the design database. An autorouter then uses this guidance from the user to create a plan for routing the design. The user can then modify their guidance to the router until the results for the plan are acceptable. Using the planned flow, the autorouter can complete the design, creating detailed paths including etch segments and vias. Allowing such interaction with an autorouter significantly reduces the routing time and hence time-to-market.

User-guided autorouting

A method and system and computer program product for automatically creating computer simulations or analyses of signal transfers of a circuit or system design are disclosed. A description of a physical design of a circuit or system is provided. The physical design has physical components and at least one of the physical components may transfer a signal to at least one other physical component. The physical design description includes an identification of the physical components and information descriptive of physical inter-connectivity among the physical components. A signal transfer description is provided for at least one signal transfer. The signal transfer description includes a set of source nodes and a set of receiver nodes. The set of source nodes provide the signal to be transferred and the receiver nodes receive the signal transferred from the corresponding set of source nodes. Each node is described by information associated with physical components. A signal transfer description is identified as corresponding to at least a portion of the physical inter-connectivity information. The information in the corresponding signal transfer description is used to construct computer simulations or analyses of the corresponding physical inter-connectivity.

System and method of describing signal transfers and using same to automate the simulation and analysis of a circuit or system design

Patterns for a routable interface of the signal lines of a integrated circuit device include several groups of terminals distributed about the pattern center, each group clustered along a corresponding curvilinear reference segment extending outward from the pattern center to its perimeter. Routability zones are created between each successive pair of groups. For higher terminal density, in at least one of the terminal groups of the pattern, either the offset of the terminals from the reference line segment is not uniform, or the distance of the terminals from the pattern center does not increase uniformly. A portion, preferably at least about 50% of the terminals in a group of the pattern are not collinear with, but offset from, the reference segment. A portion, preferably at least about 90% of the terminals in a given terminal group are each closer to the reference line segment of that terminal group than they are to the reference segment of another terminal group. The patterns of this invention can be employed on IC chips, IC package layers and PCB layers for patterning of terminals, pins, via, pads and another connector devices useful in IC devices.

Routable high-density interfaces for integrated circuit devices

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Walter M Katz