Patent ID: 8112732

Claim:
A computer system, comprising a processor for executing program instructions and a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program instructions, wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions for placing cells in an integrated circuit design, comprising program instructions for: defining bin locations for the design, the bin locations having a predetermined size and shape; calculating a density value for the bin locations according to the number of cells located within the corresponding bin location; calculating a simulated diffusion velocity for the cells using the density values of the bin locations; moving the cells according to their calculated diffusion velocity until the density value of the bin locations is less than or equal to a predetermined density, wherein a differing diffusion velocity calculated for the cells causes relocation of the cells at a different rate whereby cells located in higher density bin locations are moved farther in a given time period than cells located in lower density bin locations; and storing a result of the moving in a memory of the computer system.