Electronic Design Automation

11.2.2. Placement objectives

11.2.2.1. Total wirelength

Total wirelength is the most commonly used objective in placement formulations. Minimization of total wirelength indirectly optimizes several other objectives. First, routability can be improved by less routing demand. Second, timing can be better because shorter wires have less delay. Third, power consumption can be reduced because shorter wires also introduce less capacitive load. Notice that total wirelength minimization is only a heuristic in optimizing these other objectives. Even if the total wirelength is reduced, nets in the most congested region, along the timing critical paths, or with the highest switching activities may not be shorter. To specify the importance of different ...