Patent ID: 6240541
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A circuit designing apparatus of an interactive type having a display unit for displaying circuit design steps and an input unit for inputting responsive information to displayed data on said display unit and information necessary for a circuit design in order to conduct said circuit design in an interactive form comprising:a layout design unit for conducting a placement in mounting of each of logic components composing a circuit that is an object of a design on the basis of a result of a logic design and wiring between said logic components;a display control unit for causing said display unit to display a result of the placement and the wiring conducted by said layout design unit; anda placing position determining unit for determining a placing position on a boundary of each layout hierarchy block in which a virtual block terminal is placed whenever said layout design unit divides a region that is an object of a design into plural layout hierarchy blocks to conduct a wiring design,said placing position determining unit determining a center of gravity of coordinates of pins that are logic components linked to a net connected to a virtual block terminal in a layout hierarchy block in which a placing position of said virtual block terminal should be determined, determining a side of said layout hierarchy block which a straight line extending from a position of said center of gravity toward another layout hierarchy block that should be connected to said virtual block terminal crosses, determining a pin of said net closest to said side, and determining a position at which a straight line extending from a position of said pin in a main wiring direction or a sub wiring direction and said side cross as a placing position of said virtual block terminal,said layout design unit conducting a wiring process between said plural layout hierarchy blocks while placing said virtual block terminal in the placing position determined by said placing position determining unit.