Efficient floorplan enumeration using dynamic programming

The problem of determining floorplans with optimum area utilization is addressed. To enable the application of dynamic programming, the problem is first transformed into that of determining all floorplans within a specified tolerance of the perfect floorplan. It is shown that for slicing floorplans the problem of enumerating floorplans is related to enumerating two-partitions. Tests to identify redundant partial floorplans are derived, and it is shown that abandoning them does not violate the principle of optimality of dynamic programming. A novel ordering of two-partitions is derived, which enables determination of the wire length cost of successive two-partitions in constant time. Results for a set of benchmark circuits are presented.<>