Multiple Main Spine Routing for Constrained Electronic Circuit Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer-aided design (CAD) methods for routing nets in electronic circuits face challenges in efficiently connecting pins across constrained layout planes with limited routing area, where single main spine wire solutions are impractical due to blockages and misaligned track patterns.

Innovation Solution

The method involves selecting multiple main spine routing tracks and generating multiple main spine wires to connect pins, allowing for greater flexibility and reducing net length, thereby improving circuit performance and resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single main spine wire is used to route a net, then the routing structure is simple, but it cannot effectively navigate blockages and misaligned track patterns in constrained layouts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidspine wire structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the routing path into multiple main spine wires instead of using a single continuous spine. Each main spine wire can be independently routed to navigate around blockages and adapt to track misalignments, allowing the routing structure to segment and reconfigure based on layout constraints while maintaining overall connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple main spine wires are used to navigate blockages, then routing flexibility improves, but the number of routing tracks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidrouting area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes multiple metal layers to route the multiple main spine wires, effectively adding a vertical dimension to the routing space. By distributing spine wires across different layers (e.g., M1, M2, M3), the design navigates around blockages and track misalignments in the horizontal plane without proportionally increasing the occupied area, as the wires exploit the third dimension (layer depth) for routing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If pins are grouped and connected to multiple main spines, then net length is reduced, but the routing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenet lengthVSAvoidrouting process

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary pin grouping and assignment to multiple main spines before the actual routing execution. By pre-determining which pins connect to which main spine wires and organizing them into groups, the complex decision-making is done in advance, allowing the subsequent routing process to follow a more systematic and manageable procedure rather than dealing with all constraints simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10719653B2Spine routing and pin grouping with multiple main spines

Publication Date: 2020.07.21 SYNOPSYS INC

AI summary

A computer implemented method of routing a net of an electronic circuit is disclosed. The net connects a plurality of pins of the electronic circuit. The method includes selecting, using one or more computer systems, first and second main spine routing tracks for respective first and second groups of pins of the net. The method also includes generating, using one or more computer systems, a first main spine wire on the selected first main spine routing track and a second main spine wire on the selected second main spine routing track. A router configured to perform the method is also disclosed.