A system and method for routing power between circuit blocks in an integrated
circuit,
such as macros and standard cells. A macro is wrapped in a relatively narrow power
interface ring and placed in the integrated circuit such that the lower metal layers
of the power interface ring are aligned and in direct contact with the power rails
of a standard cell block. A power grid is formed above the macro and the upper
metal layers of the power interface ring are coupled to the power grid. The upper
power grid is tied either to an outer power bus or directly to power pins in the
surrounding I/O ring. Data signals may be routed in the I/O ring space.
