Patent ID: 6637016
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for selectively placing cells of an application-specific integrated circuit on a substrate surface comprising the steps of:a) defining a grid covering a substrate surface, b) assigning cells to the grid to provide old x and y coordinates of the cells relative to the grid, c) grouping the cells by function to provide functional regions within the grid, d) determining a density map of the surface of the substrate in all the functional regions within the grid, e) determining free space of the grid on the surface of the substrate relative to the density map, and f) assigning new cells to the free space of the grid on the substrate surface to provide an application specific integrated circuit, by i) assigning an origin point in the free space on the grid to a new cell ii) inspecting the origin point to determine if enough free space exists at the origin point to place the new cell, and iii) when there is not enough free space at the origin point to place the new cell, then inspecting adjacent points on the grid in an outwardly spiraling pattern until a point on the grid within the free space is located at which the new cell will fit.