Circuit-Aware Library Cell Expansion for Area, Power, and Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit design processes often result in suboptimal implementations due to the use of library cells that are not well-suited or optimized for the specific design needs, leading to inefficiencies in area, power, and timing.
Innovation Solution
A system that performs library expansion and co-optimization by identifying gaps and anomalies in existing library cells, recommending additional cells to fill these gaps, and creating new cells through electrical and physical modeling to enhance the library based on the circuit design requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a predefined library of cells is used for circuit design, then the design process can proceed with standard components, but the library cells may not be applicable to specific circuit design requirements resulting in suboptimal implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the circuit design before final library cell selection. It identifies gaps and anomalies in the library by comparing required circuit functions against available library cells, then proactively recommends or creates appropriate library cells before the design is finalized, ensuring optimal implementation from the start
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts library cell parameters based on specific circuit design requirements. By analyzing electrical and physical properties of existing library cells and comparing them against design needs, the system modifies or creates library cells with optimized parameters (such as drive strength, delay, area) that match the specific circuit implementation requirements
2Reliability
If existing library cells are used without customization, then the library remains stable and manageable, but the circuit design achieves suboptimal area, power, and timing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors and analyzes the circuit design against the library cells. It identifies gaps where library cells do not meet design requirements and provides feedback to either modify existing library cells or create new ones. This feedback loop ensures the library evolves to match design needs while maintaining stability through systematic, analysis-driven changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the library optimization process into distinct phases: analyzing existing library cells, identifying gaps and anomalies, recommending modifications, and creating new cells only when necessary. This segmented approach maintains library stability by making targeted, justified changes rather than comprehensive rewrites
3Loss of time
If library cells are selected without systematic analysis, then the design process is faster, but the implementation results in suboptimal area, power, and timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary gap analysis and library cell evaluation before final selection. By pre-identifying which library cells are suitable and which gaps exist in the library, the system enables faster, more informed decisions during the design process rather than requiring time-consuming trial-and-error selection
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual, heuristic library cell selection with automated computer-based analysis. Using computational methods to systematically evaluate library cells against design requirements, the system achieves both speed and precision by eliminating human error and bias from the selection process
Data Source
AI summary
A system expands an existing library based on simultaneous optimization of a circuit design being built and the library cells being used. The system receives a library of cells and a circuit design and performs synthesis and optimization of the circuit design. The system evaluates the circuit design to identify portions that may be candidates for new library cells. The system analyzes the library to determine whether there is an existing library cell that can be used, whether the new libcell should be added to the library, or whether the new libcell should replace an existing libcell. The system performs modeling for the new libcell to measure the improvement obtained by use of the new libcell. The system recommends the new libcell for addition to the library based on the performance modeling.