Patent ID: 7725859

Claim:
A computer implemented method for implementing virtual metal fill, comprising: using a computer system which comprises at least one processor and is programmed for: obtaining a layout record for a circuit design of an electronic circuit; identifying actual metal fill data for the layout record based at least in part on one or more rules, in which the actual metal fill data correspond to metal fill to be inserted into the electronic circuit; and consolidating a portion of the actual metal fill data representing an actual metal fill pattern into virtual metal fill data representing a different pattern of virtual metal fill based at least in part on the actual metal fill data and displaying the virtual metal fill data on a display apparatus or storing the virtual metal fill data on a tangible computer readable storage medium or a storage device of the computer system, wherein the actual metal fill pattern is to be manufactured in the electronic circuit, and the virtual metal fill is not to be manufactured in the electronic circuit, and the actual metal fill pattern and the virtual metal fill are analyzed as one or more conductors in determining a capacitor network for the circuit design.