Bi-directional Path Tracing for Circuit Voltage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current circuit design and manufacturing processes face inefficiencies in verifying electrical overstress and voltage propagation, particularly in complex microcircuit designs, where traditional methods require manual determination of voltage propagation and are prone to errors, and do not effectively handle hierarchical and repetitive elements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of efficient bi-directional property-based path tracing methods that iteratively account for voltage propagation across devices, recognize series and hierarchical chains, and prioritize current flow direction, reducing iteration counts and stabilizing circuit properties, while also cataloging and reporting violations in a human-readable format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual voltage propagation verification methods are used, then verification can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with an automated computer-based path tracing system that uses algorithms to systematically trace voltage propagation paths through circuits, eliminating human error and significantly reducing verification time while maintaining or improving accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The verification system performs self-verification through automated path tracing algorithms that independently analyze voltage propagation without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to verify its own results through iterative refinement and stability checking
2Reliability
If comprehensive voltage propagation analysis is performed across all circuit paths, then verification coverage is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the circuit analysis into discrete paths between voltage sources and test points, allowing the complex overall problem to be broken down into manageable individual path analyses that can be processed systematically without overwhelming computational resources
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of all possible paths before detailed analysis, and uses iterative path tracing with stability checking to progressively refine results, avoiding redundant computations and focusing resources on critical paths that affect verification outcomes
3Measurement precision
If iterative path tracing is performed to ensure voltage stability, then verification accuracy is improved, but the number of iterations required is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through iterative path tracing that cycles through circuits multiple times, with each iteration refining voltage stability determinations. The process continues periodically until stability criteria are met, ensuring accurate results while allowing for optimization of iteration counts based on circuit characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for efficient bi-directional property-based path tracing. The method includes reading a data structure corresponding to a circuit. The method also includes iteratively performing property accounting of properties as voltages propagate across devices in the circuit. The method also includes traversing series chains of similar devices in the circuit to reduce an iteration count and arrive at a circuit stability, wherein the circuit stability is determined when propagated user-specified and computed circuit properties (e.g. shortest distance) remain unchanged between subsequent iterations of the traversing. The method also includes traversing the data structure for propagated user-specified and computed property violations. The method also includes cataloging and reporting these violations in human-readable form.