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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1999
Kuochun Lee, Fremont, CA (US);
Tsung-Yen Chen, Milpitas, CA (US);
Oridus Inc., Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
An automatic Engineering Change Order (ECO) methodology to effectively and efficiently carry out an ECO process is provided. In the present invention, an ECO framework, which includes a database and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software tools, is implemented as part of the ECO process. The ECO framework database is used in monitoring the gate array cells reserved for ECO modifications. In addition, the database also stores information related to the gate array cells such as their timing characterization, fanout characteristics, physical locations, and others. The database also includes library for storing selected connectivity patterns for logic cells. On the other hand, the ECO framework CAD software tools are used to place the reserved gate array cells in a physical layout and to monitor their status. The CAD software tools is also used to select gate array cells from the database for ECO changes according to predetermined criteria.