Rule-Based Routing Blockage Extension for Circuit Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional circuit design routing methods often result in zig-zag routing and inaccurate congestion estimation due to the avoidance of existing blockages, leading to reduced routing resources and inefficient network routing.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of rule-based routing blockage extension, which determines a dimension extension value based on design rules and applies it to existing routing blockages, allowing for the merging of blockages and the creation of updated routing guides that improve routing efficiency and congestion estimation by closing gaps around blockages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If routing avoids existing blockages, then routing reliability is improved, but routing efficiency deteriorates due to zig-zag patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting reliabilityVSAvoidrouting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple small blockages into a single extended blockage by applying a dimension extension value. This consolidation allows the routing process to treat scattered obstacles as one unified constraint, enabling straighter routing paths while maintaining reliability by still avoiding the blocked areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary blockage extension before the actual routing process. By pre-processing the blockage data to extend dimensions and merge adjacent blockages, the routing algorithm receives optimized blockage information that guides more efficient pathfinding from the outset, rather than reacting to scattered obstacles during routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If routing avoids existing blockages, then design rule violations are prevented, but congestion estimation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign rule complianceVSAvoidcongestion estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

By merging adjacent blockages into extended blockages, the patent creates more accurate representations of congested areas. This consolidation prevents double-counting of overlapping blockage regions and provides better congestion metrics for routing decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the dimensional parameters of blockages by extending them according to design rules. This parameter modification ensures that blockages are represented with sufficient margin to prevent design rule violations while providing accurate congestion information for estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Shape

If routing uses extended blockages, then routing path straightness is improved, but routing resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting path straightnessVSAvoidrouting resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple small blockages into fewer extended blockages, reducing the total number of obstacles the routing algorithm must process. This consolidation decreases computational resources required while still guiding straighter paths by providing clearer avoidance zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11675955B1Routing using rule-based blockage extension

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 CADENCE DESIGN SYST INC

AI summary

Various embodiments provide for routing a net of a circuit design using rule-based routing blockage extension, which may be part of electronic design automation (EDA). In particular, some embodiments route a net of a circuit design by determining a dimension extension value based on a design rule of the circuit design and applying the dimension extension value to at least one existing routing blockage.