| 摘要 |
A layout for an integrated circuit includes standard cells 6 positioned at standard cell sites 4. Programmable cells 10 are positioned at programmable fill sites 8 which have a size sufficient to accommodate the programmable cells 10 and are not occupied by standard cells 6. The position of these programmable sites 8 is recorded in site data as part of the layout data associated with the layout 2. Empty standard cell sites 4 remaining after standard cells 6 and programmable cells 10 have been placed are filled with standard fill cells 12. The boundaries of the programmable cells 10 are not constrained other than by alignment with standard cell sites 4. This permits a high density of programmable fill sites 8 and programmable cells 10 to be achieved. When it is desired to replace a programmable cell 10 with a programmed cell 38′ the programmable cells 10 are all deleted from the layout and then the required programmed cells 38′ are subject to an automated placement algorithm to place them where appropriate for their function. The remaining empty programmable fill sites 8 are then refilled with programmable cells 10. Finally, routing algorithms to connect to and from the newly introduced programmed cells 38′ are executed to connect those program cells 38′ up to the other points within the integrated circuit layout 2 required.
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