Treemap Visualization for Hierarchical Netlist Circuit Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designers face challenges in comprehending complex electronic systems due to their enormous scale, and existing tools struggle to display simulation-related data in a human-readable format, especially when only a hierarchical netlist is available, lacking physical design data or higher-level descriptions.
Innovation Solution
A treemap representation is used to visually display circuit properties based on a hierarchical netlist, allowing for the rendering of circuit data without requiring physical layout information, using virtual layouts and interactive elements to convey simulation information effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hierarchical netlist is used to represent circuit data, then the data can be processed and simulated, but it becomes difficult for human designers to understand and debug
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the hierarchical netlist data structure using a treemap visualization. Instead of displaying the raw text-based netlist, the system generates a graphical representation where rectangles represent circuit blocks and their hierarchical relationships, making the data both machine-processable and human-understandable simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The treemap visualization acts as an intermediary between the hierarchical netlist data and the human designer. It translates the abstract text-based netlist into a visual format that preserves the hierarchical structure while adding spatial and visual cues that facilitate human comprehension and debugging
2Shape
If physical layout information is required for visualization, then accurate spatial representation is achieved, but the system cannot work with only hierarchical netlist data
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring physical layout information to create a visualization, the patent inverts the approach by generating a virtual layout from the hierarchical netlist data itself. The visualization derives spatial relationships from the hierarchical structure rather than imposing physical coordinates, enabling visualization with any hierarchical data format
Solution Approach 2:
The treemap visualization method is universal and can work with any hierarchical netlist format without requiring specific physical layout information. It handles different data formats and hierarchical structures through a standardized visualization approach, making the system adaptable to various circuit representation formats
3Loss of information
If detailed circuit data is displayed, then comprehensive information is provided, but the visualization becomes overwhelming and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the circuit visualization into hierarchical levels using the treemap structure. Each rectangle represents a block that can be further expanded to show sub-blocks, allowing designers to navigate from high-level overview to detailed views systematically. This segmentation prevents information overload by organizing data in manageable hierarchical chunks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the hierarchical data through the treemap layout. By representing hierarchical relationships as nested rectangles in two-dimensional space, the visualization provides intuitive spatial cues that make navigation easier while preserving complete circuit information across different hierarchical levels
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit description, such as a hierarchical netlist, is obtained for an integrated circuit. Based on the circuit description, a treemap representation is rendered using blocks, nodes, and/or devices from the hierarchical netlist as objects, or leaves, in the treemap representation. Using a virtual layout, the leaves are positioned in the treemap representation independent of their physical layout. Circuit properties for the electronic design are also obtained using various methods such as a circuit simulator. The circuit properties are displayed to a user on the treemap representation.