An automatic layout generator for bipolar analog modules

An automatic layout system dedicated to analog module generation is described. First, a clustering procedure is invoked to partition a given circuit into clusters to be packed into a one-dimensional array. Then, a linear ordering scheme is applied to clusters so that the cluster order can be matched to the signal-flow of the circuit. After an initial placement for circuit elements in each cluster, a block compactor is executed by means of packing blocks in an idle space, and a detailed router is invoked to complete all required interconnections. Finally, a layout compactor is applied to pack the whole layout pattern in a rectangle of the minimum possible area. A number of implementation results are shown to reveal the practicability of the module generator