Patent ID: 7089523

Claim:
A computer readable medium that stores a computer program that places circuit modules in an integrated circuit (“IC”) layout, wherein said IC layout includes a plurality of nets each of which includes a plurality of circuit elements in the IC layout, wherein the computer program uses a wiring model that defines different types of interconnect lines for connecting the circuit elements of the nets, said wiring model having diagonal lines, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for: a) defining, for each particular net, a minimum spanning tree that models the topology of interconnect lines for connecting the circuit elements of the particular net, said minimum spanning trees having edges, wherein at least one of the edges of at least one of the minimum spanning trees is at least partially diagonal, b) calculating the length of the edges of the minimum spanning trees; and c) combining the length calculations to obtain an estimate of the total interconnect-line length needed for connecting the circuit elements of the nets.