JPH06110968A - Connection method in layout editor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] In the connection processing in the layout editor, cancel the cancel operation of the horizontal line segment and the vertical line segment,
The purpose is to reduce unnecessary line segments and improve work efficiency. [Structure] Point d is already set as a fixed point on the rubber band 34. When the pointer 33 is moved to the point d and the mouse button is pressed, the cursor 35a passing through the point d,
35b is displayed. While holding down the click button, move the mouse to move the pointer 33. Pointer 3
Along with the movement of 3, the cursors 35a and 35b also move.
The rubber band 34 is redisplayed to include the pointer position. When the pointer 33 is moved to the point d1 and the click button is released, the point d1 is set as a fixed point and the cursors 35a and 35b are erased. Then, the rubber band 3 is formed so as to connect the points a and d1 and the points d1 and c.
4 is displayed again.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manually connecting a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment by operating a pointer device between two different points in a layout editor.

Today, in the design of semiconductor devices, automation is advancing in the layout as well. However, there are quite a few cases where automatic wiring cannot be performed, or particularly when manual wiring is required. In many cases where it is necessary to perform such manual connection, there is a long distance between the two connecting points or there is an obstacle in the middle of the two connecting points.

For this reason, in the manual connection operation, it is necessary to reduce the useless insertion of the horizontal or vertical line segment and the cancel operation of the once determined line segment to improve the work efficiency.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional manual connection method in a layout editor, a person who operates the layout editor recognizes between two connecting points, connects a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment, and finally connects the two points. Has been completed.
The horizontal line segment and the vertical line segment are generated by operating a pointer device such as a mouse to indicate a start point and an end point. In this case, if an obstacle exists between two points, the end point designation of the line segment is repeated while avoiding the obstacle from the start point to generate horizontal / vertical line segments, and the end point is connected.

[0005]

However, if the distance between the two points to be connected is long and the number of obstacles between the two points is large, there are cases in which the obstacles make it impossible to continue the connection at the point when the wires are connected halfway. . At this time, the generated horizontal / vertical line segments must be canceled halfway and the connection operation must be performed again, which causes a problem of low work efficiency.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and when the two connecting points are long distances or there are many obstacles between the two connecting points, It is an object of the present invention to eliminate a cancel operation of a horizontal line segment or a vertical line segment, reduce wasteful line segments, and improve work efficiency.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a layout editor provided with a pointer device capable of moving a pointer displayed on a display and setting a pointer pointing point as a fixed point. In the connection method in which the two different points displayed on the display are connected by the horizontal line segment and the vertical line segment based on the fixed point set by the pointer device, the two different points are stored as the reference fixed points in the storage means. And the temporary wiring connecting the two points is displayed on the display. When the pointer device selects a designated point of the pointer while the pointer is located on the tentative wiring, a cursor that extends horizontally and vertically through the pointer is displayed and the displayed state is maintained. In the display state of the cursor, the temporary wiring is re-displayed so as to include the pointing point of the pointer at that time as the pointer device moves the pointer. Then, when a fixed point setting operation is performed by the pointer device in the display state of the cursor, the designated point of the pointer at that time is set as a new fixed point and the cursor is erased. In the tentative wiring, if the designated point of the pointer where the cursor is displayed is not the reference fixed point or the fixed point stored in the storage means, the new point is added between the fixed points at both ends of the line segment including the designated point where the cursor is displayed. The memory is stored so that the fixed point is located. Further, when the pointer indicated by the cursor on the temporary wiring is the fixed point stored in the storage means, the fixed point is changed to a new fixed point and stored in the storage means.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the present invention, if the pointer is moved while the cursor is displayed and the point at which the temporary wiring redisplayed with the movement of the pointer overlaps the cursor is set as the fixed point, The part becomes a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment.
By repeating this operation, two different points are connected by a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment. When the re-displayed temporary wiring hits the obstacle, one point of the temporary wiring on the obstacle is selected by the pointer and the pointer is moved to further re-display the temporary wiring. Then, if the point at which the newly re-displayed temporary wiring does not hit the obstacle is set as the fixed point, the wiring process is completed. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the canceling operation of the horizontal line segment and the vertical line segment and reduce the useless line segment. Therefore, when the two points to be connected have a long distance or there are many obstacles between the two points to be connected. Also, the work efficiency of connection processing is improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a layout editor for implementing the present invention. The layout editor 1 includes a display unit 2, a data input unit 3, a layout data processing unit 3, and a file access unit 5.

The display unit 2 has a display 6
Are connected. Based on the control of the display unit 2, the display 6 has two points a and b, obstacles 31 and 32 such as logic cells, a pointer 33, and rubber as temporary wiring connecting the two points a and b, as shown in FIG. The band 34 is displayed. The pointer 33 points to one point on the display 6. In addition, the display 6 is adapted to display cursors 35a and 35b (shown by broken lines) that extend horizontally and vertically through the designated point (the tip of the arrow) of the pointer 33.

A mouse 7 as a pointer device and a keyboard 8 as a pointer device are connected to the data input section 3. The mouse 7 has a click button 7a. The pointer 33 on the display 6 shown in FIG. 6 can be moved by operating the mouse 7 on a plane. Further, when the mouse 7 is stationary, pressing the click button 7a can select the pointing point of the pointer 33 at that time, and releasing the click button 6a can set the pointing point of the pointer 33 as a fixed point. It is like this.

When the mouse 7 is moved, the data input unit 3 fetches the movement amount data and outputs the fetched movement amount data to the layout data processing unit 4. When the click button 7a is pressed, the data input section 3 outputs a selection signal to the layout data processing section 4, and the click button 7a
When is released, the setting signal is output to the layout data processing unit 4.

A disk system 9 as a storage means is connected to the file access unit 5. The disk system 9 has logic cells (obstacles 31, 32 shown in FIG. 6).
Pattern data, layout data, and the like are stored.
An end point coordinate table 40 shown in FIG. 14 is assigned to the disk system 9. The end point coordinate table 40 stores coordinate data of reference fixed points and fixed points set in the connection processing described later.

Then, the file access unit 5 reads out the pattern data and the layout data of the logic cells from the disk system 9 and outputs them to the layout data processing unit 4.
Further, the file access unit 5 reads the coordinate data of the fixed point from the end point coordinate table 40. Further, the file access unit 5 adds the coordinate data of a new fixed point to the end point coordinate table 40 or changes the predetermined coordinate data.

The layout data processing unit 4 outputs the pattern data and layout data of the logic cells input from the file access unit 5 to the display unit 2. Further, the layout data processing unit 4 outputs the data for displaying the pointer 33 to the display display unit 2. Further, when the layout data processing unit 4 receives the movement amount data from the data input unit 3, the layout data processing unit 4 outputs the movement amount data to the display unit 2.

The display unit 2 displays the display 6 based on the data input from the layout data processing unit 4.
The obstacles 31, 32, the two points a, b, and the pointer 33 are displayed on the screen. The display unit 2 moves and displays the pointer 33 when the movement amount data is input.

When the two points a and b are set on the display 6 in the wire connection processing as shown in FIG. 5, the layout data processing unit 4 creates data for displaying the rubber band 34 and stores the data. Display display 2
Output to. The display unit 2 causes the display 6 to display the rubber band 34 based on this data.

The layout data processing unit 4 uses the pointer 3
When the selection signal based on the pressing operation of the click button 7a is input from the data input unit 3 in a state where 3 is located on the rubber band 34, the cursors 35a and 35b that pass the designated point of the pointer 33 are displayed. Data is generated and the data is output to the display unit 2. Based on this data, the display display unit 2 causes the display 6 to display the cursors 35a and 35b passing through the point designated by the pointer 33.

The layout data processing unit 4 uses the cursor 3
When the movement amount data based on the movement of the mouse 7 is input from the data input unit 3 in the display state of 5a and 35b, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 1, data for redisplaying the rubber band 34 is created so as to include the pointing point of the pointer 33 at that time, and the data is output to the display unit 2. The display unit 2 causes the display 6 to re-display the rubber band 34 based on this data.
In addition, the layout data processing unit 4 uses the movement amount data input from the data input unit 3 to move the cursors 35a and 35a.
Data for moving and displaying b is created and the data is output to the display unit 6. The display unit 2 displays the cursor 3 on the display 6 based on this data.
5a and 35b are moved and displayed.

The layout data processing unit 4 uses the cursor 3
When the setting signal based on the release operation of the click button 7a is input from the data input unit 3 in the display state of 5a and 35b, the designated point of the pointer 33 at that time is set as a new fixed point, and the fixed point Coordinate data is taken in from the display unit 2. The layout data processing unit 4 also stops outputting the cursor display data for displaying the cursors 35a and 35b. The display display unit 2 displays the cursor 3 based on the stop of the cursor display data.
5a and 35b are erased.

Further, the layout data processing unit 4 is arranged so that the rubber band 34 is set just before setting a new fixed point.
When the designated point of the pointer 33 on which the cursor is displayed is not the reference fixed point or the fixed point stored in the end point coordinate table 40, the both ends of the line segment including the designated point of the pointer 33 on which the cursor is displayed are fixed. The control data for positioning the new fixed point between the points and the coordinate data of the new fixed point are output to the file access unit 5. The file access unit 5 stores the coordinate data of the new fixed point in the end point coordinate table 40 based on the control data input from the layout data processing unit 4.

Further, the layout data processing unit 4 determines that the pointer 33 indicated by the cursor on the rubber band 34 is a fixed point stored in the end point coordinate table 40 immediately before setting a new fixed point. In some cases, the coordinate data of the new fixed point is output to the file access unit 5 together with the control data for changing the coordinate data of the new fixed point to the coordinate data of the new fixed point. The file access unit 5 stores the coordinate data of the new fixed point in the end point coordinate table 40 based on the control data input from the layout data processing unit 4.

Next, connection processing of the layout editor 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
First, in step 11, the reference fixed point is set by operating the mouse 7 or the keyboard 8 to input coordinate data of two points to be connected on the display. Step 1
At 2, the coordinate data of two points is set in the end point coordinate table 40. In step 13, the rubber band is displayed based on the coordinate data of the end point coordinate table 40.

In step 14, the mouse 7 waits for input by the click button 7a. Next step 15
When the click button 7a is pressed with the pointer positioned on the rubber band, the pointer position at that time is set to p1 in step 16.

In step 17, it is determined whether or not the pointer position p1 is on the data line segment of the end point coordinate table 40. The data line segment is a line segment determined by a pair of front and rear coordinate data in the end point coordinate table 40. If it is determined in step 17 that the pointer position p1 is not on the data line segment, the process returns to step 14. If it is determined in step 17 that the pointer position p1 is on the data line segment, it is determined in step 18 whether the pointer position p1 exists in the end point coordinate table 40.

When it is determined in step 18 that the pointer position p1 exists in the end point coordinate table 40, step 19
When it is determined that the pointer position p1 does not exist in the end point coordinate table 40, the process proceeds to step 20. In step 19, among the data in the end point coordinate table 40, coordinate data before and after the coordinate data equal to the pointer position p1 are set as t1 and t2. In step 20, among the data in the end point coordinate table 40, the coordinate data of both end points of the data line segment including the pointer position p1 are set to t1 and t2.

In the next step 21, a pair of horizontal and vertical cursors passing through the pointer position p1 are displayed. When the pointer is moved in step 22, the pointer position at that time is set to p in step 23. In the next step 24, the pair of horizontal and vertical cursors passing through the pointer position p is redisplayed, and the rubber band is redisplayed to include the pointer position p. The rubber band is displayed again at t1 and t set in step 19 above.
2 or t1 and t2 set in step 20 and the pointer position p are displayed so as to be connected.

When the click button 7a of the mouse 7 is released in step 25, the pointer position at that time is set to p2 in step 26. In step 27, the pointer position p2
The cursor displayed at is deleted, and the rubber band is displayed again so as to include the pointer position p2.

At the next step 28, it is judged whether or not the pointer position p1 at the step 16 exists in the end point coordinate table 40. If it is determined in step 28 that the pointer position p1 exists in the end point coordinate table 40, the process advances to step 29, and the pointer position p1 is set in the end point coordinate table 40.
If it is determined that the file does not exist, the process proceeds to step 30. In step 29, the coordinate data p1 in the end point coordinate table 40
To coordinate data p2. In step 30, among the data in the end point coordinate table 40, the coordinate data p2 is set between the end point coordinate data t1 and t2 set in step 20.
To add.

After the processing of step 29 or 30, the process returns to step 14. In step 14, the process waits for input, and if there is no input, the process ends. So, for example,
Assume that obstacles 31 and 32 and a pointer 33 are displayed on the display 6 before the connection as shown in FIG. In this case, the end point coordinate table 4 as shown in FIG.
0 indicates no coordinate data.

From this state, as shown in FIG. 5, when two points a and b are set as reference fixed points on the display 6,
A rubber band 34 connecting the reference fixed points a and b is displayed. At this time, as shown in FIG.
A coordinate and b coordinate are set to 0.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the pointer 33 is moved to the point c on the rubber band 34 and the click button 7a of the mouse 7 is pushed, the cursor 35a extending horizontally and vertically through the point c. , 35b are displayed.

From this state, click button 7 of mouse 7
When a is released, the point c is set as a fixed point as shown in FIG. 7, and the cursors 35a and 35b are erased. When the click button 7a is pressed, the point c is the line segment ab
Since it exists above, the c coordinate is additionally stored between the a coordinate and the b coordinate of the end point coordinate table 40 as shown in FIG.

After this, as shown in FIG.
When is moved to the point d on the rubber band 34 and the click button 7a of the mouse 7 is pressed, cursors 35a and 35b that extend horizontally and vertically through the point d are displayed.

From this state, click button 7 of mouse 7
When a is released, the point d is set as a fixed point and the cursors 35a and 35b are erased as shown in FIG. When the click button 7a is pressed, the point d is the line segment ac
Since it exists above, the d coordinate is additionally stored between the a coordinate and the c coordinate of the end point coordinate table 40 as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG.
When is moved to the point d on the rubber band 34 and the click button 7a of the mouse 7 is pressed, cursors 35a and 35b that extend horizontally and vertically through the point d are displayed.

From this state, as shown in FIG. 11, the mouse 33 is moved while the click button 7a is being pressed to move the pointer 33. Then, as the pointer 33 moves, the cursors 35a and 35b also move. Rubber band 3
4 is redisplayed to include the pointer position. When the pointer 33 is moved to the point d1 and the click button 7a is released, the point d1 is set as a fixed point and the cursors 35a and 35b are erased. Since the point d exists in the end point coordinate table 40 when the click button 7a is pressed, the d coordinate of the end point coordinate table 40 is changed to the d1 coordinate as shown in FIG. Then, the points a and d1,
The rubber band 34 is displayed again so as to connect the points d1 and c.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Is moved to a point e on the rubber band 34 and the click button 7a of the mouse 7 is pressed, cursors 35a and 35b extending horizontally and vertically passing the point e are displayed.

From this state, as shown in FIG. 13, the mouse 33 is moved while the click button 7a is being pressed to move the pointer 33. Then, as the pointer 33 moves, the cursors 35a and 35b also move. Rubber band 3
4 is redisplayed to include the pointer position. When the pointer 33 is moved to the point e1 and the click button 7a is released, the point e1 is set as a fixed point and the cursors 35a and 35b are erased. Since the point e exists on the line segment cb when the click button 7a is pressed,
As shown in, the e1 coordinate is additionally stored between the c coordinate and the b coordinate of the end point coordinate table 40. Then, the rubber band 3 is formed so as to connect the points c and e1 to the points e1 and b.
4 is displayed again.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pointer is moved while the cursor is displayed, and the point at which the rubber band redisplayed with the movement of the pointer overlaps the cursor is set as a fixed point. A part may be a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment. By repeating this operation, it is possible to connect the two different points with a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment. If the rubber band redisplayed in this connection process hits an obstacle, select one point of the rubber band on the obstacle with the pointer and move the pointer to redisplay the rubber band that does not cover the obstacle. . Then, by setting the point where the rubber band does not hit the obstacle as a fixed point, it is possible to connect between two different points by a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the canceling operation of the horizontal line segment and the vertical line segment and reduce the useless line segment. Therefore, when the two points to be connected have a long distance or there are many obstacles between the two points to be connected. Also, the work efficiency of connection processing can be improved.

[0041]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even when two points to be connected are long distances or there are many obstacles between the two points to be connected, a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment are provided. There is an excellent effect that the canceling operation of the line segment is eliminated, the wasteful line segment is reduced, and the work efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a layout editor for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram before setting a reference fixed point.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a rubber band display.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing selection of pointer pointing points.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing setting of fixed points.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing selection of pointer pointing points.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing setting of fixed points.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing selection of pointer pointing points.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing redisplay of a rubber band.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing selection of pointer pointing points.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing result.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an end point coordinate table in the state of FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an end point coordinate table in the state of FIG.

16 is a diagram showing an end point coordinate table in the state of FIG. 7.

17 is a diagram showing an end point coordinate table in the state of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an end point coordinate table in the state of FIG. 11.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an end point coordinate table in the state of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 display display unit 3 data input unit 4 layout data processing unit 5 file access unit 6 display 7 mouse 8 keyboard 9 disk system 33 pointer 34 rubber band as temporary wiring 35a, 35b cursor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a layout editor provided with a pointer device capable of moving a pointer displayed on a display and setting a pointing point of the pointer as a fixed point, a pointer between two different points displayed on the display. In a wiring method in which a horizontal line segment and a vertical line segment are connected based on a fixed point set by a device, the different two points are stored in a storage means as reference fixed points, and a temporary wiring connecting the two points Is displayed on the display, and when the pointer pointing point is selected by the pointer device in a state where the pointer is located on the temporary wiring, a cursor that extends horizontally and vertically through the pointer is displayed to maintain the display state. However, when the pointer device moves the pointer while the cursor is displayed, The temporary wiring is redisplayed so as to include the pointer pointing point, and when the fixed point is set by the pointer device in the cursor display state, the pointer pointing point at that time is set as a new fixed point. At the same time, the cursor is erased, and if the pointing point of the pointer in which the cursor is displayed in the temporary wiring is not the reference fixed point or the fixed point stored in the storage means, a line including the pointing point in which the cursor is displayed The new fixed points are stored in the storage means so that the new fixed points are located between the fixed points at both ends of the minute, and the pointer designated by the cursor displayed on the temporary wiring is the fixed point stored in the storage means. In some cases, the fixed point is changed to a new fixed point and the fixed point is stored in the storage means.