JP3024604B2 - Block library output method and output device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a block library output device, and more particularly, to a block library output method and an output device for outputting a block library used in ASIC design from a database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a block library output device has been proposed in order to extract from a database a block library as various types of reference data used when performing ASIC design. Conventionally, as this type of block library output device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-283527 has proposed a device for outputting a data sheet as a block library. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the block library output device. Element data such as individual component data 611 and process data 612 used for LSI design are prepared in the storage unit 610 as a database. From the input means 650, the element extracting means 6
20, an instruction is input to the component synthesizing unit 630, and the expression converting unit 640, and each unit performs a required operation.
Then, in the element extracting means 620, the input means 65
Based on the instruction from 0, desired element data of a desired component is extracted from the database 610. The sheet information creating unit 660 receives the instruction from the input unit 650,
This element data is edited, formatted and output as sheet information. The sheet output unit 670 outputs a block library (data sheet) based on the sheet information.

[0003]

In such a conventional block library output device, since the blocks obtained as a result of the search are output in units of blocks, there is no problem in outputting only a few blocks. If you want to output two blocks with similar functions and design them while selecting them, or if you want to output all blocks and perform bookbinding, print a large number of pages Therefore, there is a problem that it takes much time and cost. In addition, even if the output block library has the same function, it is output on separate paper, so once output to paper, there is a problem that it takes time to compare the block information later. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for outputting a block library in which the time and cost for output can be reduced and block information can be easily compared.

[0005]

According to a method of outputting a block library according to the present invention, a truth table of a block and a symbol or information on a function of a block similar thereto are input as information for comparison, and a common block library is used. A plurality of blocks having a circuit configuration are collectively output on the same page.

The block library output device of the present invention further comprises means for inputting a truth table and a symbol of the block or information relating to the function of the block similar thereto.
Means for comparing the input information with each other, page shaping means for combining a plurality of blocks having a common circuit configuration as a block library on the same page based on the result of the comparison, and means for outputting the shaped page Is provided. In addition, a storage unit is provided for storing the input information and the information whose output is determined by being compared by the comparison unit.

[0007] Blocks having common functions are collectively output on the same page, so that the block library can be made compact and blocks can be easily compared.

[0008]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. The input unit 110 reads information necessary for outputting a block library. The information to be input includes, in addition to the information necessary for the comparison as a function, information on the specifications and the shape of the delay. Comparison means 12
In the case of 0, the logical information and the operation information of the block are received from the truth table and the symbol read by the input means 110, and the comparison between the blocks is performed. The page shaping means 140 shapes the blocks determined by the comparing means 120 to have a common symbol and a truth table so that they can be output on the same page. The storage unit 130 stores the read truth table and the symbol. When the comparison unit 120 compares the truth table and the symbol, the page shaping unit 140 shapes the page and outputs it to the output unit 150. When sending data, information is retrieved from the storage means 130. Further, information relating to a block determined to have a common symbol and a truth table by the comparing means 120 is also stored in the storage means 130. The output unit 150 outputs / prints the page shaped by the page shaping unit on a CRT or paper.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In steps S1 and S2, the block number m to be compared with the block number n is initialized. In step S3, the symbol and the truth table are input from the input unit, and in step S4, the input symbol and the truth table are compared with the m-th one. As a result of the comparison in step S5, if it is determined that the block is common to the m-th block, the process proceeds to step S6, is added to the common block list for the n-th block, and returns to step S2. Also, as a result of the comparison in step S5,
The sum of the blocks determined to be different from the m-th block is incremented by 1 (m +
1) If there are still blocks to compare (m <n),
Returning to the comparison in steps S4 and S5, if there is no block to be compared (m ≧ n), the input truth table and symbol are stored as n-th data in step S9.

Thereafter, 1 is added to n in step S10 (n + 1), and if there is no remaining block in the judgment in step S10, the process proceeds to step S12 and subsequent steps. In steps S12 and S13, the same block number 1 as the block number n is initialized to 1. In step S14, information for output to the block library other than the truth table and the symbol is input, and the page is shaped. After all the blocks using the common truth table and the symbol are shaped, step S1
In step S7, a block library for one page is created, and output to a CRT or a printer in step S18. In step S19, 1 is added to n, the output is completed when all blocks have been output, and if there are remaining blocks, step S1 is performed.
Return to 0.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment embodying the output device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present invention.
Information necessary for outputting a block library is read from a file stored in the basic disk device 310. In the input file, in addition to the symbols and the truth table, all information to be output to the block library, such as layout information, names of blocks, and information on specifications and shapes of inter-terminal delays are read. Computer 320
File comparison tool 321
The truth table and the symbol read from 10 are compared with the truth table and the symbol of another block read so far. The page shaping tool 322 shapes the blocks determined to have the common symbol and the truth table by the file comparison tool so that they can be output on the same page. The random access memory 330 stores the truth table and the symbol read from the magnetic disk drive 310, and the file comparison tool 321 compares the truth table and the symbol with each other. When the page is formatted and data is sent to the printer 340, information is extracted from this. In addition, information about blocks determined to have a common symbol and a truth table by the file comparison tool 321 is also stored in the random access memory 330. The printer 340 prints, on paper, the information of the page shaped by the page shaping tool.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 again. In steps S1 and S2, the block number m to be compared with the block number n is initialized. In step S3, the basic disk device 3
10, the symbol and the truth table are input, and the symbol input in step S4 and the random access
The truth table stored in the memory 330 is compared with the m-th one. If the m-th truth table is not stored in the random access memory 330, it is determined that the files are not the same file. As a result of the comparison in step S5, if it is determined that the block is common to the m-th block, the process proceeds to step S6, and is added to the common block list for the n-th block (created if the list does not already exist). Then, the process returns to step S2.

As a result of the comparison in step S5, if it is determined that the block is different from the m-th block, one is added to the block number m to be compared in step S7, and if there is still a block to be compared (m <n) ), Returning to the comparison of step S4 and step S5. If there is no block to be compared (m ≧ n), the truth table and the symbol input in step S9 are stored in the random access memory 330 as n-th data. I do. Thereafter, 1 is added to n in step S10, and if there is no remaining block in the determination in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12 and subsequent steps. The same block number 1 as the block number n in steps S12 and S13
Is initialized to 1. In step S14, information for outputting to the block library other than the truth table and the symbol is input, and the page is shaped.

The page is shaped, for example, in step S17, the drive capability of the block and pullup / pulldown.
Use the resistance values to shape the order of the output blocks. When all the blocks using the common truth table and the symbol are shaped, a block library for one block (including the block using the common truth table and the symbol, if any) is created, and in step S18, the printer 340 is created.
Output to In step S19, 1 is added to n, and when all blocks have been output to the printer 340, the process ends.
If there are remaining blocks, the process returns to step S10.

The comparison method performed in step S3 will be described in more detail. In step S3, as shown in FIG. 4, it is compared whether the shapes of the symbols in the blocks 401 to 404 and the logic of the truth table are common. As this comparison method, for example, a method of storing a truth table and a symbol as an ASCII format or a binary format file and comparing the two can be adopted.

The page shaping process performed in step S13 will be described. When the value of the same block number 1 is 1, only one block is output for one page, so that there is no particular need for shaping. If the value of the same block number 1 is 2 or more, the output position is determined by comparing each item of the delay information input in step S11. The priority can be specified for each item. After the output position is determined, data such as a block name, a symbol, a truth table, and a delay graph is stored as the same page. At this stage, the position on the CRT or the paper to be output is determined, and in step S14, this is output as it is.

Here, an example of an actual output result will be further described. Referring to FIG. 5, first, BLOCKl, BL
The case where the OCK2 and the BLOCK3 have a common truth table and a symbol, and differ only in delay information including a driving capability and a shape will be described as an example. According to the flow from step S1 to step S11 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the BLOCK1 truth table and symbol, and the block names of BLOCK2 and BLOCK3 are stored as a list of blocks sharing data with BLOCKl in the random access memory. Step S12 to Step S
BLOCK1, BLOCK2, BLO
The three pages of CK3 are shaped as the same page. Here, if the driving capacities are different, the blocks are arranged in ascending order of the driving capacities and output in step S18. In this example, since there is no remaining block, the process ends here. However, if there are other blocks, the same processing is performed. As a result of the above processing, as shown in FIG. 5, the truth table, the symbol, and the terminal information are shared, and the delay graph outputs three blocks collectively.

Here, in the present invention, the comparing means 12 shown in FIG.
The comparison level can be designated as 0, and some information can be set for comparison. For example, the presence or absence of a pull-up resistor is not set as a comparison target, and a buffer with a pull-up resistor and p
It may be possible to output a buffer having no ulup resistor to the same page. As a similar example, it is conceivable that the blocks differ only in the driving capability, or that the Schmitt buffer is not distinguished.

Alternatively, in addition to the symbol and the truth table, information indicating a function directly such as "this block is a flip-flop" is added as information used for comparison by the comparing means 120. By inputting, more detailed page shaping processing can be performed.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of blocks having a common circuit configuration as a block library are output collectively on the same page, so that the contents conventionally output on separate papers. Can be output together on the same paper, and the cost of binding the block library can be reduced to about 1/2 to 1/3.
Also, since different data are output together on the same paper, there is no need to compare several papers as in the past,
When comparing functionally substantially common blocks, the comparison becomes easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an output method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of information for explaining a comparison process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional block library output device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 input means 120 comparing means 130 storage means 140 page shaping means 150 output means 310 magnetic disk drive 320 computer 321 file comparing tool 322 page shaping tool 330 random access memory 340 printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/50 H01L 21/82

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A block library used in an LSI design, a truth table of a block and a symbol or information on a function of a block similar thereto are input as information for comparison, and a plurality of blocks having a common circuit configuration as the block library are input. A block library output method, which outputs blocks collectively on the same page. 2. A means for inputting a truth table and a symbol of a block or information on a function of a block similar thereto for a block library used in an LSI design, a means for comparing the input information with each other, A block library output device, comprising: a page shaping means for combining a plurality of blocks having a common circuit configuration as a block library into the same page based on the result of the above, and a means for outputting the shaped page. 3. The block library output device according to claim 2, further comprising storage means for storing the input information and information determined to be output by the comparison means.