Automated Electrical DRC for Integrated Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for electrical design rule check (DRC) of integrated circuits are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and error-prone, often requiring specialized knowledge from physical design engineers unfamiliar with circuit design, leading to false checks and over-design.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for electrical DRC that acquire a parasitic parameter netlist and circuit simulation results, applying electrical DRC rules to automatically perform checks, determining compliance and locating errors within the integrated circuit, thereby reducing operator expertise requirements and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical DRC is performed by physical design engineers familiar with electrical DRC but unfamiliar with circuit design, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to false checks and over-design
Solution Approach 1:
An automated electrical DRC system acts as an intermediary between physical design and circuit design disciplines. The system integrates parasitic parameter extraction, circuit simulation, and rule checking capabilities, allowing circuit design engineers to perform accurate electrical DRC without needing deep electrical DRC expertise, while eliminating false checks and over-design issues
2Reliability
If the number of electrical DRC check items is increased to cover various electrical items in advanced processes, then the reliability is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming and labor-intensive checks
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical DRC system performs self-service through automated parasitic parameter extraction from layout, automatic circuit simulation execution, and automated rule checking. This eliminates manual labor for each check item while maintaining comprehensive coverage of electrical rules, significantly improving productivity without sacrificing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Parasitic parameters are extracted and circuit simulations are performed in advance before the actual DRC checking process. This preliminary preparation of electrical characteristics data enables rapid automated checking of multiple rules without time-consuming manual analysis during the DRC phase
3Measurement precision
If manual electrical DRC checking is performed with increasing check items, then the measurement precision is improved, but the loss of time increases due to labor-intensive processes
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical process of electrical DRC checking is replaced with an automated electronic system that performs parasitic extraction, circuit simulation, and rule checking automatically. This substitution maintains high measurement precision for electrical parameters while eliminating the time loss associated with manual labor
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and a device for electrical DRC of an integrated circuit. The method includes: acquiring a parasitic parameter netlist of the integrated circuit; receiving a circuit simulation result of the integrated circuit and electrical DRC rules; and performing electrical DRC on the integrated circuit based on the parasitic parameter netlist, the circuit simulation result and the electrical DRC rules.