A Switchbox Router with Obstacle Avoidance

Detour is the channel router used by the Magic layout system. Based on Rivest and Fiduccia's "greedy" channel router, Detour is capable of routing switchboxes and channels containing obstacles such as preexisting wiring. It jogs nets around multi-layer obstacles such as contacts, and routes over single-layer obstacles. If there are no obstacles, results are comparable to other good channel routers. Detour thus combines the effectiveness of traditional channel routers with the flexibility of net-at-a-time routers.