Hierarchical approaches to VLSI circuit layout

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5369420

Sarrafzadeh, M

This thesis studies two hierarchical approaches to the circuit-layout problem: the top-down approach and the bottom-up approach. The first part is devoted to the traditional top-down approach, and particularly, to an important subproblem thereof called the Channel Routing Problem (CRP). The complexity of CRP in three different layout modes - the reserved mode, the knock-knee mode, and the restricted-overlap mode - is studied. Besides the conventional square grid, two new grids - the alternate grid and the 45/sup 0/ grid - are considered, and their respective versatility is assessed. In the second part, a novel bottom-up technique for solving the layout problem is proposed. The strategy is to recursively interconnect a set of modules, in conformity with the design rules. The basic step consists of merging a pair of strongly-connected modules. This technique is elaborated on and the fundamental problems of this approach are discussed.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5369420
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990210* -- Supercomputers-- (1987-1989)
COORDINATES
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS