Patent ID: 6389584
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G06F,H01L

Abstract:
A method for minimizing the number of antenna diodes, comprising:selecting a segment of an interconnect routed in one or more metal layers of an integrated circuit (IC); determining whether the selected interconnect is attached to any gate input and, if so, further determining whether the selected segment is connected to a signal source; determining whether the selected segment is at the lowest metal layer for the routed interconnect if the selected segment is already connected to a signal source and, if the selected segment is at the lowest metal layer, excluding all antenna diodes from all gate inputs that are attached to the selected segment, wherein protection of each gate input is maintained; and determining whether to adjust the number of antenna diodes associated with gate inputs that are attached to the selected segment if the selected segment is not connected to the signal source, including: determining an interconnect area; determining a gate area; determining a ratio between the interconnect area and the gate area; determining, based on criteria including the ratio, whether to reduce to a minimum the number of antenna diodes; and minimizing the number of antenna diodes if it is so determined, wherein protection of each gate input is maintained.