Patent ID: 7877718

Claim:
Non-transitory computer-readable media containing instructions, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method for optimizing a placement for a plurality of device modules within an integrated circuit (IC) including at least one symmetry group formed by device modules that are subject to symmetric placement constraints relative to at least one axis of an area of the IC occupied by the symmetry group, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. iteratively perturbing a representation of a trial placement to produce a plurality of differing trial placement representations, each defining a position within the IC for each of the plurality of device modules, wherein each trial placement representation comprises a separate hierarchical element representing each symmetry group and defining a placement for the symmetry group that satisfies all symmetric placement constraints on the symmetry group, wherein at least one hierarchical element of each of the plurality of differing trial placement representations that represents a symmetry group defines a symmetry island in which all device modules of the symmetry group are arranged in a connected placement, and wherein each trial placement representation further comprises a separate element representing each device module not forming any symmetry group; b. separately evaluating a cost function that is a measure of placement quality for each of the plurality of trial placements; and c. selecting one of the trial placements as the suitable placement in response to cost function evaluations carried out at step b.