A VLSI layout editor and method for using same that increases display and re-display
speed and accuracy uses properties inherent to VLSI layouts that allows them to
be displayed efficiently and accurately independent of the canonical expression
of the VLSI design. The VLSI layout editor and methods for using same use precomputed
images that each represent a portion of the VLSI layout, a hierarchy cache that
includes multiple LOD versions of selected sub-designs in the pre-computed images,
and selected direct determination of the viewable representation from the canonical
expression for at least one LOD. Apparatus and methods according to the present
invention can render a particular type of data whose canonical form is smaller
than its corresponding displayed image thereof when the displayed image has geometric
properties that allow heuristics and rasterization for dynamic and accurate expansion
using selected combined techniques. Texture mapping and mipmapping can be used
to accurately reduce, expand and reorder layers in a viewable image expanded from
a canonical expression of the VLSI layout.
