A high density datapath layout generation method under path delay constraints

A novel method for producing high-density datapath layouts under path delay constraints is proposed. The authors have adopted an array-compiler for generating layouts of functional blocks, and a place-and-route program for generating an overall layout. For linear placement of functional blocks, they have applied the A-algorithm with a new cost function which has the terms of path delay constraints and track number. This makes it possible to find a placement of functional blocks which leads to a high-density datapath layout that satisfies all path delay constraints. With the proposed method, the authors successfully generated several datapath layouts realizing the desired performance. The density of the layout ranges from 6.1 to 8.5Ktr./mm/sup 2/, which is sufficiently high.