Backside Power Distribution Layout With Post-Placement Sub-Power Taps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for high-performance semiconductor devices with higher integration levels leads to complex design rule constraints during the placement of standard cells, resulting in increased design complexity and the need for a larger cell library.

Innovation Solution

A design method for semiconductor integrated circuits where standard cells are placed first, followed by the placement of sub-power tap cells based on predefined design rules, reducing the constraints on standard cell placement and minimizing the number of cells stored in the cell library.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power tap cells are placed before standard cells, then power distribution is established, but design rule constraints increase and placement flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower distributionVSAvoiddesign rule constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by placing standard cells first to establish their positions and routing requirements, then subsequently placing power tap cells in available spaces. This reverse sequence of the conventional approach allows the placement tool to identify optimal locations that satisfy both standard cell positioning and power distribution requirements while minimizing design rule violations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If more cell types are stored in the cell library to satisfy design rules, then design rule compliance improves, but cell library size and design complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign rule complianceVSAvoidcell library size

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By performing standard cell placement first, the methodology determines the actual spatial configuration and routing needs before introducing power tap cells. This allows the use of a smaller, more manageable cell library since power tap cells can be placed in the remaining spaces without requiring pre-definition of numerous specialized cell types to satisfy design rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If standard cell placement is constrained by power tap cell requirements, then power distribution is optimized, but placement flexibility and routing efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower distributionVSAvoidplacement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional placement sequence by placing standard cells first and then power tap cells, rather than the traditional approach of placing power tap cells first. This inversion allows standard cells to be positioned optimally for routing efficiency while power tap cells are subsequently placed in the remaining spaces to satisfy power distribution requirements, thereby achieving both goals without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20250156623A1Semiconductor integrated circuit in backside power distribution network semiconductor architecture and design method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit including a first region and a remaining region excluding the first region is provided. The method includes: placing standard cells in the remaining region; generating a routing structure that connects the standard cells; placing sub-power tap cells in the first region based on a predefined design rule; and verifying whether the sub-power tap cells and the standard cells comply with the predefined design rule.