US Patent 7461366 Usage of a buildcode to specify layout characteristics

A method for laying out custom integrated circuits includes the steps of preliminarily laying out a custom integrated circuit using a plurality of libraried standardized programmed cells (p-cells). Buildcode representations are then assigned for each of a plurality of circuit components and features thereof to realize customization of at least a portion of the plurality of p-cells. A final layout of the custom integrated circuit is then generated using the buildcode representations.