A multi-layer channel router with new style of over-the-cell routing

The authors discuss a new style of over-the-cell routing, where a new cell structure is introduced. Terminals are located around the horizontal center line in the cell. The region between the central terminals in the upper cell row and ones in the lower cell row is regarded as an expanded channel. The proposed router processes the expanded channel between the central terminals in the upper cell row and ones in the lower cell row. The router shortens the length of polysilicon wires to achieve high-performance circuits. Experimental results showed that the router achieve the goal of size reduction which was predicted according to the theoretical estimation, and that the length of polysilicon wires was dramatically shortened