Automated Excess Antenna Diode Identification in IC Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current integrated circuit (IC) design lacks a method to identify and manage excess antenna diodes, which are manually added to prevent charge buildup during fabrication, leading to potential transistor gate damage.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method that receives changes to a netlist, identifies excess antenna diodes using computer processors, and either removes or shrinks them in the IC layout to ensure compliance with design rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antenna diodes are manually added to the layout to provide charge dissipation paths, then transistor gate protection is improved, but device complexity increases due to excess antenna diodes
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies and manages excess antenna diodes through computer-based analysis of netlist changes, eliminating the need for manual tracking and optimization by designers. The computer processors autonomously determine which antenna diodes are excess based on fabrication charge dissipation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number and configuration of antenna diodes based on netlist changes and fabrication requirements. By changing the parameters of antenna diode placement and quantity in response to design modifications, the system optimizes protection while reducing excess components.
2Reliability
If excess antenna diodes are present in the design, then charge dissipation capability is maintained, but manufacturing precision decreases due to unnecessary components
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors netlist changes and their impact on antenna diode requirements. By providing feedback loops that analyze design modifications and automatically adjust antenna diode configurations, the system ensures design rule compliance while maintaining adequate charge dissipation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining all previously added antenna diodes, the system applies partial action by retaining only the necessary portion for charge dissipation. Excess antenna diodes are identified and removed, providing the minimum required protection without over-engineering.
3Reliability
If manual addition of antenna diodes is used, then charge buildup prevention is achieved, but productivity decreases due to lack of automated identification methods
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical process of adding and tracking antenna diodes is replaced with an automated computer-based system. Computer processors analyze netlist changes and automatically identify excess antenna diodes, substituting human effort with automated computational analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of netlist changes to predict and identify excess antenna diodes before finalization. By proactively analyzing design modifications and their impact on antenna requirements, the system prevents excess components from being committed to the design.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe techniques for identifying excess antennas (or antenna diodes) in a IC design using computer software tools. An IC design can be changed for any number of reasons, which can change the number of antennas that are required to sufficiently protect the IC from damage during the fabrication process. Currently, a chip designer would use a ratio to determine whether a portion of the IC (e.g., a macro) has too many or too few antennas. The embodiments herein describe techniques where computer software tools identify excess antennas for the designer. The designer can then decide whether to remove these antennas. In another embodiment, the computer software tools may automatically remove some or all of the identified excess antennas, without input from the chip designer.