A data-structuring technique for gridded VLSI layouts

This paper presents the LINKED ARRAY data structure for storing rectangular structures which are constrained to a grid. The data structure is particularly useful in integrated layout systems for VLSI technologies like gate-arrays; it is also useful for building schematic editors. This data structure has been used to implement a prototype layout system which has significant memory usage and timing response advantages for large layouts (~ 100,000 used gates, running on a workstation like SUN 3/260). The paper describes how the data structure is created, how it operates, and how it compares with existing mechanisms.