GENERIC: a programming language for VLSI layout and layout manipulation
The author describes a programming language, GENERIC (GENERation of Integrated Circuits), for producing high-quality, general-purpose layouts of custom integrated circuits. Unlike other VLSI programming languages, in GENERIC, existing layouts can be manipulated by the VLSI operators to produce new layouts. Design of a layout in GENERIC starts with a circuit description that contains the active components and electrical nets. The circuit description (sometimes called an abstract layout) is then transformed into a realizable layout by the application of VLSI operators. These operators are both design-rule safe and wire-connectivity maintaining. Built-in operations include relative placement, primitive compaction, and orientation. A novel mechanism called planes is described, which for the first time enables non-design rule-violating topological manipulations. GENERIC forms the kernel of a VLSI design system. Also describes is the cell library, Flexcell, which contains parameterized and modifiable cells. Cells in the Flexcell library are created using cell generators, but unlike traditional cell generators, the layout generated need not exhibit a high degree of regularity.
- Research Organization:
- New York Univ., NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6963857
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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