Flexible Cell Height Layout Architecture for EDA Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools face challenges in efficiently designing complex integrated circuits due to the need for manual specification and placement of thousands to billions of components, which is time-consuming and impractical, and lack flexibility in cell height variations, limiting optimization for area, performance, and power.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a flexible cell height architecture in standard cell libraries, where cells can have asymmetrical or fractional heights, with a reference edge defined at the intersection of N-well and P-well, allowing EDA tools to align and place cells with minimal overlap, enabling a high degree of flexibility in device layout optimization for area, performance, and power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual specification and placement of components is used, then design precision can be maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign precisionVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated cell placement where the EDA tool autonomously positions cells based on defined reference edges and placement rules, eliminating the need for manual component-by-component placement while maintaining design precision through systematic alignment procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If fixed cell height architecture is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates due to limited optimization flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cell height dimension is segmented into discrete units where cells can be placed at different vertical positions relative to the reference edge, allowing varied cell heights while maintaining alignment through the common reference edge framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The placement system introduces vertical positioning flexibility by allowing cells to extend above or below the reference edge, adding a dimensional degree of freedom to cell placement while maintaining horizontal alignment through the reference edge constraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cells with varying heights are introduced, then adaptability improves for optimization, but device complexity increases due to placement challenges

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference edge serves as a universal alignment feature for all cells regardless of their individual heights, providing a common reference framework that simplifies placement of varied cell types and reduces the complexity of managing different cell dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20220100938A1Flexible Cell Height Layout Architecture

Publication Date: 2022.03.31 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for optimized cell placement. A plurality of cells arranged in an area. Each cell includes a first cell region and a second cell region. The first cell region abuts the second cell region at a reference edge. The cells are aligned such that each reference edge horizontally aligns with a placement reference edge of a row having multiple cells.