Cellular Image Processing Techniques for VLSI Circuit Layout Validation and Routing

The architecture of the Cytocomputer, an existing special-purpose, pipelined cellular image processor, is described. A formalism used to express cellular operations on images is then given. Cellular image processing algorithms are then developed that perform (1) design rule checks (DRC´s) on VLSI circuit layouts, and (2) Lee-type wire routing. Two sets of cellular image processing transformations for checking the Mead and Conway design rules and for Lee-routing have been defined and used to program the Cytocomputer. Some experimental results are shown for these cellular implementations.