Snapping Layout Instances for Electronic Design Rule Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic design processes face challenges in efficiently placing objects in legal locations within GUIs, particularly in deep-submicron design processes, leading to costly and time-consuming design rule checking and iterative design revisions due to complex constraints and violations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of snapping techniques using row templates that automatically assist in the placement of layout instances or groups, reducing or eliminating the need for separate design rule checking by snapping objects to legally defined locations based on device types, orientations, and alignment requirements within the GUI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electronic design processes are used with sequential verification, then design rule checking and verification can be performed, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming with iterative revisions required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing design rule checking and verification during the placement phase itself, rather than waiting until after placement is complete. The system checks design rules, spacing constraints, and routing requirements as objects are being placed, allowing designers to correct violations immediately rather than through costly iterative revisions later in the design process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing real-time visual feedback to designers during the placement process. The system displays visual indicators showing whether placed objects comply with design rules, spacing requirements, and routing constraints, allowing designers to see the impact of their placement decisions immediately and adjust accordingly without waiting for separate verification passes
2Ease of operation
If designers manually place objects in GUI without assistance, then placement flexibility is maintained, but design rule violations may occur and require iterative corrections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the placement system to automatically check and enforce design rules during the placement process. The system serves itself by performing verification functions integrated into the placement workflow, eliminating the need for separate verification passes and reducing iterative corrections while maintaining designer control over placement decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a smart placement system that acts as a mediator between the designer's placement actions and the final layout. This intermediary system continuously monitors placement operations against design rules, spacing constraints, and routing requirements, providing real-time guidance and preventing violations before they occur in the final design
3Reliability
If separate design rule checking is performed after placement, then verification completeness is achieved, but computational resources and time are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate placement and verification functions into a single integrated process. By combining design rule checking, spacing verification, and routing constraint validation with the placement operation itself, the system eliminates redundant computational passes while maintaining complete verification coverage, thereby improving design throughput without sacrificing reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an approach to implement snapping techniques that aid the interactive, assisted, or automatic placement of layout instances or groups of layout instances for generating a legal placement layout while reducing or entirely eliminating any subsequent or separate performance of design rule checking with respect to the relevant design rules, constraints, or requirements governing the legality of the instances or groups of instances placed in the placement layout.