Chip IO Design Optimizing Layout Area and Pin Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chip IO design technologies fail to effectively minimize chip layout area and cost while addressing simultaneous switching noise (SSN) by not considering geometric locations of signal IO cells and parasite effects of the chip package and circuit board, leading to over-design and increased pin count.
Innovation Solution
A method for chip IO design that integrates signal IO pin sequence, timing specifications, and physical layout parameters to optimize the placement of signal IO cells and IO supply cells, using numerical simulations to verify SSO specifications and adjust driving parameters, including the addition of decoupling capacitors and IO supply cells as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional IO design methods are used without considering geometric locations and parasite effects, then design process is simpler, but chip layout area increases and pin count increases due to over-design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary numerical simulations during the design phase to calculate SSO impacts by integrating geometric locations of signal IO cells and parasite effects of chip package and circuit board. This preliminary analysis enables optimized placement of signal IO cells and determination of minimum required IO supply cells before manufacturing, avoiding over-design and reducing chip layout area.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional IO design methods are used without considering geometric locations and parasite effects, then design process is simpler, but pin count increases due to over-design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary numerical simulations during the design phase to calculate SSO impacts by integrating geometric locations of signal IO cells and parasite effects of chip package and circuit board. This preliminary analysis enables optimized placement of signal IO cells and determination of minimum required IO supply cells before manufacturing, avoiding over-design and reducing pin count.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses numerical simulations to create a virtual model of the chip's electrical behavior, copying real-world parasite effects and SSO impacts in a computational environment. This virtual modeling allows accurate prediction of voltage drops and noise without physical prototypes, enabling precise determination of required IO supply cells and reducing unnecessary pins.
3Area of stationary object
If geometric locations and parasite effects are considered in IO design, then chip layout area is minimized and pin count is reduced, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual design iterations and physical prototyping with numerical simulations that computationally model electrical behavior. By substituting mechanical/design complexity with automated computational analysis, the system achieves precise optimization of chip layout and pin count while managing design complexity through software-based approaches.
4Quantity of substance
If geometric locations and parasite effects are considered in IO design, then pin count is minimized, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual design iterations and physical prototyping with numerical simulations that computationally model electrical behavior. By substituting manual design complexity with automated computational analysis, the system achieves precise determination of minimum required pins while managing design complexity through software-based approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for input/output (IO) design of a chip, including: according to a signal IO pin sequence and associated driving parameters, sequentially placing a signal IO cell in the IO design associated with each of the signal IO pins; after a signal IO cell is placed, performing a simultaneous switching output (SSO) verification step according to physical layout parameters and locations of the signal IO cells placed in the IO design, so as to check whether an SSO specification is violated; if not violated, continuing to place a signal IO cell of a next signal IO pin; if violated, including a decoupling capacitor, an IO power cell and/or an IO ground cell in the IO design.