Hierarchical Shape Memory Storage for Circuit Autorouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing and retrieving shapes in circuit designs, such as those used in electronic circuit interconnect autorouting, are inefficient, particularly for large and complex multilayer layouts, leading to increased computational complexity and memory usage.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical storage method is introduced, where shapes are stored in a map structure with multiple levels, each corresponding to the entire geometry of the circuit design, with each level having a grid of slots of different sizes, allowing each shape to be stored in the smallest slot it fits into, reducing memory usage and improving retrieval efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional flat storage methods are used for shapes in circuit designs, then implementation is simple, but memory usage increases and retrieval efficiency decreases for large multilayer layouts
Solution Approach 1:
The storage structure is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels (first level, second level, third level) with progressively larger slot sizes. Each level contains a grid of slots, and shapes are stored at the lowest level where they fit, enabling efficient retrieval through hierarchical search while managing memory usage through selective storage depths.
2Quantity of substance
If shapes are stored in the smallest fitting slots across multiple levels, then memory usage is reduced, but the complexity of determining slot size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The algorithm preliminarily determines the bounding box dimensions of each shape before storing it. This preliminary measurement allows the system to efficiently match shapes to appropriate slot sizes across hierarchical levels without requiring complex real-time calculations during storage or retrieval operations.
3Loss of time
If a hierarchical storage structure with multiple levels is implemented, then processing time is reduced for large layouts, but implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage structure adds a hierarchical dimension to traditional flat storage, organizing slots across multiple levels with increasing capacities. This dimensional transformation enables efficient processing of large layouts by allowing the system to query and retrieve shapes through hierarchical levels, reducing processing time while managing implementation complexity through structured organization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to store the shapes of an electrical circuit design in a hierarchical set of arrays that inverts the layout size order by area includes defining a plurality of storage levels. Each level corresponds to a two-dimensional projection of the three-dimensional volume of the circuit layout. Accordingly, each level subsumes the entire physical space of the circuit layout. Each level may include a respective grid of slots. The slots may be rectangular. Each slot within any single level may be the same size and dimensions as every other slot in this level. Shapes are added to this storage technique based upon size, not based upon physical layer. Each slot can contain shapes from any physical layer as long as that shape fits entirely within the slot.