Flexible Routing Tracks for Electronic Design Implementation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic design routing methods struggle with flexible routing tracks, especially at half-pitches of 14 nm or below, where region-based and non-uniform track patterns are required, and existing approaches fail to accommodate on-track and off-track requirements across different layers effectively.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using spacetiles as search probes to find viable routing solutions, allowing for transition across regions with different rules, including soft and hard rules, on the same or different layers, and creating spacetile layers associated with specific rules to comply with on-track requirements while minimizing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional routing methods are used, then routing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to region-based and non-uniform track patterns is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to region-based and non-uniform track patternsVSAvoidrouting method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The routing space is divided into multiple regions, each with its own track pattern characteristics (uniform or non-uniform, different pitches). The router selectively applies different routing strategies to different regions based on their specific track patterns, enabling adaptability without requiring a completely complex unified approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The routing method dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the track pattern type in each region. The router can switch between constrained routing (for uniform track patterns) and unconstrained routing (for non-uniform track patterns), optimizing performance for each region while maintaining overall system manageability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If flexible routing tracks are implemented, then adaptability to different design rules is improved, but routing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with on-track and off-track requirementsVSAvoidrouting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Track patterns and their associated design rules (on-track, off-track requirements) are defined and stored in a database before the routing process begins. This preliminary setup allows the router to efficiently query and apply appropriate rules during routing without increasing real-time complexity, as the decision logic is pre-configured.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A track pattern database acts as an intermediary between the routing engine and design rules. The database stores multiple track pattern definitions with their associated rules, allowing the router to select and apply appropriate patterns without directly managing complex rule sets, thereby simplifying the routing process while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If region-based track patterns are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting precision at 14 nm half-pitchVSAvoidlayout implementation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system manages multiple track pattern definitions with different parameters (pitch, uniformity, orientation) in a database. By parameterizing track patterns rather than hardcoding them, the system achieves high manufacturing precision for 14 nm processes while maintaining ease of manufacture through database-driven configuration and automated router selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9213793B1Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing electronic designs using flexible routing tracks

Publication Date: 2015.12.15 CADENCE DESIGN SYST INC

AI summary

One aspect interconnects two regions subject to different rules and using transition rule(s) in a transition region or cost mechanism(s), where these rules may include soft rule(s), hard rule(s), or combinations thereof. These two regions may reside on the same routing layer or on different routing layers. This aspect allows physical design tools to transition across gridded, gridless, tracked, or trackless regions subject to different rules on the same or different layers. Another aspect interconnects an object subject to the first rule(s) and the second rule(s), while the object satisfies or violates the first rule(s). These aspects use spacetile(s) on a spacetile layer as search probe(s) to find viable implementation solutions, although the spacetile(s) and hence the search probe may violate one or more rules. A spacetile layer may be identified or created for each rule and may be associated with relevant features subject to relevant rule(s).