Synthesizing signal net information from multiple integrated circuit package models

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for automatically synthesizing information from a plurality of computer-readable integrated circuit package models. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of package models contains information descriptive of a distinct package. Such information may include, for example, intra-package path lengths and/or propagation delays of signal nets in the modeled packages. Techniques are disclosed for automatically synthesizing such information to produce, for example, aggregate path lengths and/or propagation delays of the signal nets across all of the modeled packages. Such synthesis may be performed even when the package models use mutually inconsistent signal net naming conventions and the modeled packages are composed of different materials. Techniques are also disclosed for providing information to the package designer to assist the package designer in improving the design of the package models.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a system including a plurality of property values of a plurality of signal nets in an integrated circuit, a computer-implemented method comprising steps of: 
 (A) identifying a reference value r; and    (B) for each property value S in the plurality of property values, performing steps of: 
 (1) determining whether property value S differs from reference value r by more than a predetermined amount; and  
 (2) notifying a user of the system if it is determined that the property value S differs from the reference value r by more than the predetermined amount.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (A) comprises a step of selecting the reference value r from among the plurality of property values.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (B)( 2 ) comprises a step of notifying the user of the difference between property value S and reference value r.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of path lengths of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of propagation delays of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         6 . In a system including a plurality of property values of a plurality of signal nets in an integrated circuit, a computer-implemented method comprising steps of: 
 (A) identifying a reference value r; and    (B) for each property value S in the plurality of property values, performing steps of: 
 (1) identifying a difference D between property value S and reference value r; and  
 (2) notifying a user of the system of the difference D.  
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step (A) comprises a step of selecting the reference value r from among the plurality of property values.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step (A) comprises a step of selecting the maximum of the plurality of property values as the reference value r.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of path lengths of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of propagation delays of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         11 . A system comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a plurality of property values of a plurality of signal nets in an integrated circuit; and    a net property synthesizer comprising: 
 means for identifying a reference value r; and  
 for each property value S in the plurality of property values: 
 means for determining whether property value S differs from reference value r by more than a predetermined amount; and  
 means for notifying a user of the system if it is determined that the property value S differs from the reference value r by more than the predetermined amount.  
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for identifying the reference value r comprises means for selecting the reference value r from among the plurality of property values.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for notifying the user comprises means for notifying the user of the difference between property value S and reference value r.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of path lengths of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of propagation delays of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         16 . A system comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a plurality of property values of a plurality of signal nets in an integrated circuit; and    a net property synthesizer comprising: 
 means for identifying a reference value r; and  
 for each property value S in the plurality of property values: 
 means for identifying a difference D between property value S and reference value r; and  
 means for notifying a user of the system of the difference D.  
 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for identifying the reference value r comprises means for selecting the reference value r from among the plurality of property values.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for identifying the reference value r comprises means for selecting the maximum of the plurality of property values as the reference value r.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of path lengths of the plurality of signal nets.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of property values comprises a plurality of propagation delays of the plurality of signal nets.