Patent ID: 6397375
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G06F,H01L

Abstract:
A method for managing metal resources during over-the-block routing of an integrated circuit, said integrated circuit comprising a silicon layer partitioned into and implementing a plurality of functional blocks, and a plurality of metal layers layered over said silicon layer, said method comprising the steps of:allocating a percent usage of over-the-block metal over each of said functional blocks in each of said metal layers for intra-block routing, said percent usage allocated for intra-block routing being different between at least two of said plurality of functional blocks; reserving areas of said over-the-block metal on each of said metal layers for routing a power grid; reserving areas of said over-the-block metal on each of said metal layers for routing a clock grid; coordinating, among said plurality of functional blocks, locations of signal ports of said functional blocks so as to avoid blocking any inter-block signals; reserving areas of said over-the-block metal on each of said metal layers for said signal ports and for routing intra-block signals; prerouting said inter-block signals, allowing inter-block routing in said over-the-block metal on each of said metal layers but avoiding said reserved areas for said power grid, said clock grid, said signal ports and said intra-block signals.