Cell Library Segmentation for IC Design Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic design automation tools are limited in their ability to utilize large cell libraries, leading to lower quality designs when trying to optimize integrated circuits, as they struggle to manage and efficiently use the increasing complexity and size of cell libraries.
Innovation Solution
The method organizes a large cell library into subsets based on cell attributes such as structural properties, expected area, power, and timing gains, allowing optimization tools to focus on specific subsets during the design process, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of integrated circuit design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cell library size is increased to improve design quality, then the quality of integrated circuit designs is improved, but the complexity for optimization engines increases and tools struggle to manage the library efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The cell library is divided into multiple subsets, each containing cells with specific attributes or characteristics. This segmentation allows optimization tools to manage smaller, more manageable portions of the library at any given time, reducing the computational burden while still providing access to the full library's capabilities across multiple passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects and switches between different cell library subsets during the optimization process. Rather than presenting the entire large library at once, the tool adapts by presenting relevant subsets based on current design needs, making the library management flexible and efficient.
2Reliability
If the cell library size is increased to improve design quality, then better designs can be achieved, but current synthesis tools are limited in their capability to use large cell libraries
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the large cell library into smaller subsets, the system makes the library compatible with current synthesis tools' capabilities. Each subset can be processed efficiently by existing tools, while the overall system achieves better design quality by utilizing multiple subsets across different optimization passes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of presenting the entire large library at once, the system uses partial action by presenting only relevant subsets at each optimization step. This approach maintains tool efficiency by avoiding overwhelming the synthesis engine, while still achieving comprehensive optimization through multiple passes over different subsets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the complete cell library is presented to optimization tools, then all available cells can be utilized, but the tools struggle to manage and efficiently use the large library size
Solution Approach 1:
The cell library is organized into subsets that maintain the full versatility of the complete library while improving usability. Each subset contains cells with specific attributes, allowing tools to work with manageable portions while still having access to diverse cell options across different subsets, thus maintaining flexibility without sacrificing ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different subsets of the cell library are tailored with specific attributes or characteristics that match particular design requirements. This local quality approach ensures that each subset is optimized for specific use cases, making the library easier to use while maintaining overall adaptability through the collection of specialized subsets.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for using subcell libraries allow efficient handling of a large number of cells. To improve design accuracy using cell libraries, very large cell libraries are needed. However, optimization tools are not able to use very large cell libraries directly, since their results suffer. Very large cell libraries are organized into sublibraries that are adapted to be processed by optimization tools. This allows improvement in the design quality of integrated circuits, while allowing the designs to be processed by optimization tools.