Virtual Prototyping for IC Hierarchical Pin Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IC design prototyping approaches, such as top-down and bottom-up methods, face challenges with pin or terminal misalignment and inefficiencies in space utilization due to the lack of detailed design information at higher hierarchies, requiring multiple iterations and manual adjustments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual prototyping techniques that identify and place leaf cells in a hierarchical physical design, perform hierarchical routing, and detach virtual cells to optimize pin placement and reduce misalignment, while maintaining schematic hierarchies and design rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If top-down prototyping approach is used, then hierarchical design structure is maintained, but pin misalignment occurs at lower hierarchies due to lack of detailed design information
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary placement of functional cells at higher hierarchies based on estimated sizes before detailed designs are available. Virtual prototypes are created in advance with placeholder cells that can be later replaced with actual detailed designs, maintaining hierarchical structure while preparing for future pin alignment requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces virtual prototype cells as intermediaries between high-level functional specifications and detailed physical designs. These virtual cells serve as placeholders that maintain the hierarchical structure while allowing detailed pin information to be added later when actual cell designs are available, resolving the conflict between early hierarchical planning and accurate pin alignment.
2Loss of information
If bottom-up prototyping approach is used, then detailed design information is available early, but pin misalignment occurs at higher hierarchies due to independent cell placement
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges bottom-up detailed cell information with top-down hierarchical placement by automatically adjusting cell positions to align pins across hierarchy levels. When detailed designs are available, the system combines them with the pre-established hierarchical structure, performing automated adjustments to ensure pin alignment while maintaining the overall hierarchical arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms that detect pin misalignment between hierarchies and automatically trigger adjustment processes. The system monitors pin positions across different hierarchy levels and uses feedback loops to iteratively adjust cell placements, ensuring that detailed design information from bottom-up approaches is integrated without causing misalignment at higher hierarchies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual pin alignment and cell grouping is performed, then design flexibility is maintained, but design time and iteration cycles increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically performing tasks that previously required manual intervention. The automated hierarchical placement and pin alignment algorithms independently adjust cell positions and group components without requiring manual manipulation, maintaining design flexibility through programmable parameters while dramatically reducing design time and iteration cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes to automatically adjust cell placements, pin positions, and grouping configurations. By modifying placement parameters, alignment tolerances, and hierarchical constraints through software controls rather than manual operations, the system maintains design flexibility while accelerating the design process and reducing iteration cycles.
4Area of stationary object
If estimated cell sizes are used in early design stages, then space utilization may be optimized, but cell size accuracy deteriorates without detailed design information
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary space allocation and cell placement based on estimated sizes before detailed designs are available. Virtual prototypes are created with placeholder cells that occupy predicted spaces, allowing early optimization of area utilization. When detailed designs become available, the system updates cell sizes and positions while maintaining the optimized spatial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamic cell size adjustment that allows cell dimensions to evolve from initial estimates to final accurate sizes. The system maintains flexible, adjustable cell parameters that can be modified as detailed design information becomes available, enabling continuous optimization of space utilization while improving cell size accuracy throughout the design process.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing virtual prototyping for electronic designs. These techniques identify a plurality of leaf cells into a hierarchical physical design of an electronic design, generate the hierarchical physical design at least by performing hierarchical placement for the plurality of leaf cells based in part or in whole upon one or more factors, and revise the placed hierarchical physical design at least by performing hierarchical routing for the plurality of leaf cells on the hierarchical physical design. One aspect may further detach a virtual cell in the hierarchical physical design at least by grouping a first set of leaf cells and representing the first set of leaf cells with a first placeholder.