CAD tools to support full-custom integrated circuit design may either provide a fully-automated 'silicon compiler' or a more interactive 'design assistant'. This approach can provide the designer with greater control whilst providing CAD tools to free him from low-level tasks such as detailed layout. The design flow within such a design assistant suite consists of three major phases: floor planning, symbolic cell design and chip assembly.

Inspec keywords: assembling; circuit layout CAD; integrated circuit layout; artificial intelligence; network routing; interactive systems

Other keywords: gridless router; full-custom integrated circuit design support; CAD tool; Al technique; fully-automated silicon compiler; symbolic cell design; interactive design assistant; chip assembly; floor planning

Subjects: Semiconductor integrated circuit design, layout, modelling and testing