Implementation of a VLSI layout tool on personal computers

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a VLSI layout editor implemented on the Macintosh and IBM personal computers. The editor is capable of manipulating integrated circuit designs of complexity exceeding 50,000 transistors on a standard Macintosh Plus computer. The paper discusses the design tradeoffs necessary to implement a program of this capability on small computers.

REFERENCES

• 1: K. Keller, "KIC: A Graphics Editor for Integrated Circuits," Master's thesis, Univ. of Calif., Berkeley, 1981.
• 2: J.K. Ousterhout, "Caesar: An Interactive Editor for VLSI Layouts," VLSI Design, Vol. 2, No. 4, 1981, pp. 34- 38.
• 3: Emmanuel-Manolis George Katevenis, Reduced instruction set computer architectures for vlsi (microprocessor, risc, multiple-windows - of - registers), 1983
• 4: R.F. Sproull and R.F. Lyon, in C. Mead and L. Conway, Introduction to VLSI Systems Design, Addison Wesley, Reading Mass., 1980.
• 5: A.G. Iost, B.J. McKinnon and W. Robertson, "Implementation of a CMOS Single Chip Time Domain Beamformer," Proc. 1988 Canadian Conference on Very Large Scale Integration, pp. 4048, October, 1988.
• 6: P. Streatch, RED: An Interactive Mask Level Layout Editor, Master's Project Report, Technical University of Nova Scotia, May 1987.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.5 COMPUTER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.7 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
      B.7.2 Design Aids
          Subjects: Layout

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.8 PERSONAL COMPUTING

      Nouns: Macintosh; IBM PC

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors