Patent ID: 6910199
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of designing an integrated circuit comprising: creating a netlist design for each of a set of sub-circuits, each sub-circuit performing an electronic operation and having at least 300 gates; creating a physical layout for each such sub-circuit which layout includes information defining the physical position of all components of the sub-circuit, and locations on each such sub-circuit for interconnecting such sub-circuit to at least one other circuit; defining desired electrical interconnections among all of the components of the sub-circuit, the electrical connections being defined on fewer than all layers available for the provision of interconnections in an integrated circuit to be designed later; defining interconnection information for providing electrical connections as needed among such components; optimizing the design and layout for each such sub-circuit to obtain a desired level of operating speed for such sub-circuit independently of any use of such sub-circuit with any other sub-circuit to thereby provide a completed design for the sub-circuit; storing such completed design of the sub-circuit for later use in conjunction with other sub-circuits and other circuits; creating a netlist design for the integrated circuit which includes at least two sub-circuits previously optimized and stored; creating a physical layout for the integrated circuit by placing the at least two sub-circuits without changing the completed design of the sub-circuit on a design in proximity to each other; which layout includes information defining the physical position of the at least two sub-circuits and the locations on each such sub-circuit for interconnecting such sub-circuit to at least one other circuit; and defining desired electrical interconnections among the sub-circuits, the electrical connections being defined entirely on layers other than the layers used for the desired electrical interconnections among the components of the sub-circuits.