The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1998

Filed:

Jun. 18, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:

Anthony DeGroff Drumm, Rochester, MN (US);

Robert Lowell Kanzelman, Rochester, MN (US);

Bruce George Rudolph, Rochester, MN (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
395500 ; 364490 ;
Abstract

A simple system and method is disclosed that provides for the identification and removal of unnecessary buffers in a logic circuit. A special pseudo-buffer is added to the library and identified as a buffer cell with zero area. In addition, a feedthrough delay rule is associated with the pseudo-buffer such that it is treated by a timing system as a wire with no delay through which all electrical properties pass. An existing repowering function will then consider the pseudo-buffer as a replacement choice when attempting to select an optimal power level. If the pseudo buffer is chosen, it can be easily removed from the circuit at some time thereafter.


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