A method of designing an integrated circuit including executing a placement algorithm
to place a set of objects within the integrated circuit. The set of objects includes
latched objects and non-latched objects. The algorithm places objects to minimize
clock signal delay subject to a constraint on the placement distribution of the
latched objects relative to the placement distribution of the non-latched objects.
The latched object and non-latched object placement constraints may limit the difference
between the latched object center of mass and a non-latched object center of mass.
The latched object center of mass equals a sum of size-location products for each
latched object divided by the sum of sizes for each latched object. The constraints
may require that the latched object center of mass and the non-latched center of
mass both equal the center of mass for all objects.