A structure based clustering algorithm with applications to VLSI physical design

Abstract

Clustering plays an important role in VLSI physical design. In this paper, we present a new structure and connectivity based clustering algorithm. The proposed clustering algorithm emphasizes capturing natural circuit clusters, i.e., highly interconnected cell groups. We apply the proposed clustering algorithm to 2-way and k-way partitionings on ISPD98 benchmark suite as stated in C. J. Alpert (1998), and 2-way partitioning to part of ISPD2005 benchmark suite based in G.-J. Nam et al. (2005). The experimental results show that the proposed clustering algorithm can maintain the partitioning solution qualities while reducing the sizes of large scale circuits.