Lee algorithm

The Lee algorithm is one possible solution for maze routing problems.

1) Initialisation

 - Select start point, mark with 0
 - i := 0

2) Wave expansion

 - REPEAT
     - Mark all unlabeled neighbors of points marked with i with i+1
     - i := i+1
   UNTIL ((target reached) or (all points marked)

3) Backtrace

   - go to the target point
   REPEAT
     - go to next node that has a lower mark than the actual node
     - add this node to path
   UNTIL (start point reached)

4) Clearance

 - Block the path for future wirings
 - Delete all marks

Of course the wave expansion marks only points in the routable area of the chip, not in the blocks or already wired parts, and to minimize segmentation you should keep in one direction as long as possible

External links

• Example

References

• Further information in Wayne Wolf, Modern VLSI Design, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-061970-1, Page 518ff
• Lee, C.Y., "An Algorithm for Path Connections and Its Applications", IRE Transactions on Electronic Computers, vol. EC-10, number 2, pp. 364-365, 1961