RITUAL: a performance driven placement algorithm for small cell ICs

Abstract

An efficient algorithm, RITUAL (residual iterative technique for updating all Lagrange multipliers), for obtaining a placement of cell-based ICs subject to performance constraints is described. Using sophisticated mathematical techniques, one is able to solve large problems quickly and effectively. The algorithm is very simple and elegant, making it easy to implement. In addition, it yields very good results, as is shown on a set of real examples. The algorithm was tested on the ISCAS set of logic benchmark examples using parameters for 1 mu m CMOS technology. On average , there is a 25% improvement in the wire delay for these examples compared to TimberWolf-5.6 with a small impact on the chip area.<>