GALA - An Automatic Layout System for High Density CMOS Gate Arrays

This paper describes the automatic layout software system - GALA (Gate Array Layout Automation) - developed at Hughes Aircraft Company for a high density CMOS gate array family with 3u design rules. The system layout and hierarchical decomposition schemes used in GALA are presented. The particular design environment and style are discussed. The system has been used in production for the various sizes of the Hughes HCMOS gate array family for over 2 years. Routing results for some designs produced during that period are presented.