Footprint-Based Optimization for Integrated Circuit Timing and Leakage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High performance integrated circuit designs require extensive optimization steps, particularly leakage recovery, which consumes significant runtime and computational resources, leading to long turn-around times as circuit designs become more complex and larger.
Innovation Solution
Implementing footprint-based optimization in parallel with other steps, such as leakage and timing recovery, allows for the replacement of cells with equivalent footprint cells, reducing power consumption and runtime without disrupting physical or parasitic disturbances, enabling simultaneous execution of these optimizations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple optimization steps are performed sequentially for high performance integrated circuit designs, then leakage recovery and timing recovery can be achieved, but the total runtime and computational cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges leakage recovery and timing recovery optimization steps into a single integrated footprint-based optimization process. By combining these previously separate sequential steps into one unified operation that runs simultaneously, the total runtime is reduced while maintaining the performance benefits of both optimization types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs footprint-based optimization in parallel with placement and routing steps rather than waiting for them to complete sequentially. This preliminary action allows optimization to begin earlier in the design flow, reducing the overall turn-around time without compromising the quality of subsequent steps.
2Loss of energy
If leakage recovery is performed as a separate optimization step, then power consumption is reduced, but the computational cost and runtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines leakage recovery with timing recovery in a single footprint-based optimization pass. By merging these operations, the computational cost is amortized across a unified process that achieves both power reduction and timing improvement, rather than paying the full computational price twice for separate sequential executions.
3Productivity
If footprint-based optimization is performed in parallel with other steps, then runtime is reduced, but the complexity of coordinating multiple simultaneous operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal footprint-based optimization framework that handles both leakage recovery and timing recovery through a single multi-functional process. This universal approach reduces coordination complexity compared to managing separate optimization steps, as one system performs multiple functions simultaneously rather than requiring multiple specialized systems to be coordinated.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising placing elements in a layout, performing clock tree synthesis, and performing routing. The method further comprising, in parallel with one of the clock tree synthesis or the routing, performing a footprint based optimization, substituting a footprint equivalent element in a path based on a timing slack of the path.