A method for designing a cell-based ASIC device with multiple power supply voltages
is disclosed. An ASIC chip image is made without applying power or ground buses
to metal layer M1. All fast or high-power circuits are grouped together
into high-power logic blocks and synthesized with high-power circuit macro libraries.
All slow or low-power circuits are grouped together into low-power logic blocks
and synthesized with low power circuit macro libraries. The associate power and
ground buses are applied to metal layer M1 in each of the logic blocks.
The logic blocks are placed on the ASIC so that different voltage groups are separated
by at least one cell. The ASIC is then routed and tested before the mask is released.