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Abstract

A system, method, and software product in a computer aided design apparatus for system design, to simultaneously optimize multiple performance criteria models of the system, where the performance criteria models are characterized by convex cost functions based on linear dimensional characteristics of system being designed. One embodiment is provided in a computer aid design environment for integrated circuit design, and used to simultaneously optimize fabrication yield along with other performance criteria. Optimization is provided by converting a structural description of an integrated circuit into a constraint graph, compacting, and modifying the constraint graph to include convex cost functions for selected performance criteria to optimized, such as yield cost functions. The cost functions are then transformed to piecewise linear cost functions. The constraint graph is then expanded by replacing edges having piecewise linear cost function with subgraphs constructed from the piecewise linear cost function. The expanded constraint graph is then minimized using a network flow algorithm. Once minimized, the constraint graph describes the positions of circuit elements that maximize yield (and other selected performance criteria) given the cost functions.

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First Claim