Icon: A multi-purpose tool for VLSI design.

"Icon" is a new computer aided design (CAD) program that combines facilities that are normally distributed over several tools. Specifically, the icon user has available a schematics entry and simulation system, a virtual-grid compacter, and a powerful layout editor. The interface presented to the user is consistent across these functions, and it is possible to intermix them. In particular, icon allows the user to insert pieces of layout (such as PLA's) directly into a schematic.