Circuit Cell Grouping via Cross-Correlation Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microelectronic circuit design faces challenges in physical design and verification due to the complexity of integrating millions of transistors and increasing circuit functionality, particularly in arranging cells within a gate-level netlist to optimize synthesis characteristics and placement.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a register-transfer level (RTL) file to generate a gate-level netlist, determine cross-correlation between cells, form cell groups based on correlation thresholds, and create a floorplan that satisfies boundary conditions for cell placement, leveraging RTL-Synthesis compilers, cell cross-correlators, and graphical user interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cells are arranged individually in the gate-level netlist, then placement flexibility is improved, but synthesis characteristics and circuit performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges cells into groups based on cross-correlation analysis of their synthesis characteristics. Cells with similar characteristics are combined into groups that are treated as unified entities during placement, ensuring that their relative positions are maintained while still allowing overall placement flexibility. This resolves the contradiction by combining cells rather than treating them individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary cross-correlation analysis and cell grouping before the actual placement process. By pre-identifying cells with correlated synthesis characteristics and grouping them together, the system ensures that these cells maintain their optimal relationships during placement, while still allowing flexibility in the overall floorplan arrangement.
2Productivity
If cross-correlation analysis is performed on all cells, then placement optimization is improved, but computational complexity and design time worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell population into groups based on cross-correlation thresholds. Rather than analyzing all possible cell pairs, the system divides cells into correlated groups and processes these groups separately. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity from O(n²) to a more manageable level while still achieving effective placement optimization within each group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a correlation threshold parameter that controls the granularity of cell grouping. By adjusting this parameter, the system can balance between the level of optimization achieved and the computational resources required. Higher thresholds create smaller groups with less computational overhead, while lower thresholds create larger groups with more optimization but higher computational cost.
3Reliability
If cell groups are formed based on cross-probe criteria, then synthesis characteristics are maintained, but placement flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic placement strategies where cell groups can be adjusted based on floorplan constraints and requirements. While cells within a group maintain their correlated relationships, the groups themselves can be repositioned, resized, or reconfigured to accommodate different placement scenarios. This dynamic approach maintains synthesis characteristics while preserving placement flexibility at the group level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by operating at multiple levels of abstraction. At the fine level, cells within groups maintain fixed relative positions to preserve synthesis characteristics. At the coarse level, entire groups can be positioned flexibly in the floorplan. This dimensional hierarchy allows simultaneous maintenance of synthesis characteristics and placement flexibility at different scales.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for designing a circuit. The method may include obtaining a register-transfer level (RTL) file for an integrated circuit. The method may further include generating, using an RTL-Synthesis compiler and from the RTL file, a gate-level netlist including a plurality of cells for the integrated circuit. The method may further include determining, using a cross-probe criterion, an amount of cross-correlation between a first cell and a second cell in the gate-level netlist. The method may further include generating, in response to the amount of cross-correlation exceeding a correlation threshold, a cell group including the first cell and the second cell. The method may further include determining a boundary condition for the cell group. The method may further include generating a floorplan. The first cell and the second cell may be placed in the floorplan according to the boundary condition.