Patent ID: 9235674
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: G06F,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions executable by a computer, the instructions comprising instructions for: configuring an electronic design tool to mitigate electromigration effects in an integrated circuit by using a plurality of pillar metals within metal layers of the integrated circuit, wherein each of the plurality of pillar metals is a rectangular segment of metal within one of the metal layers, and wherein configuring the design tool includes specifying parameters that control routing of the plurality of pillar metals by the electronic design tool in each of the metal layers of a design of the integrated circuit, wherein the design describes the integrated circuit and is stored in a data structure; electronically analyzing the design to identify open tracks on each layer by determining a location of structures in each layer of the design including the metal layers and a plurality of via layers, wherein the metal layers are separated by the plurality of via layers, wherein the open tracks are spaces on each layer of the design that are free from structures that obstruct routing the plurality of pillar metals; and successively routing the plurality of pillar metals throughout the metal layers of the design based, at least in part, on the parameters and the location of the structures, wherein pillars of the plurality of pillar metals that are in adjacent metal layers are routed to be perpendicular and pillars of the plurality of pillar metals that are within a same metal layer of the design are routed to be parallel.