Patent ID: 6470477
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for converting physical features of an integrated circuit design to a uniform micron technology, the integrated circuit design being defined by a plurality of cells, each cell being defined by one or more micron technologies, and a user is prompted to provide key design rules that define desired features associated with one or more micron technologies, the method comprising:(a) examining layout database for the integrated circuit design, the layout database having a hierarchical structure; (b) identifying a top cell from the layout data base of the integrated circuit design; (c) descending through a first branch of the hierarchical structure of the layout database to a lowest cell in the first branch; (d) determining whether physical data of the user desired features have been previously processed for the lowest cell; (e) determining whether the physical data of the user desired features for the lowest cell complies with the uniform micron technology; (f) processing the physical data of the user desired features if the lowest cell has not been previously processed and does not comply with the uniform micron technology; and (g) moving to other lowest cells in the first branch and repeating (d)-(f), wherein the lowest cell is now the other lowest cells.