Automatic Ground Rule Verification Macro Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating ground rule verification macros in integrated circuit design are resource-intensive due to the need to violate target design rules and ensure electrical functionality, lacking efficient mechanisms for automatic generation and testing while determining acceptable levels of rule violations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves automatically generating ground rule verification design layouts based on design macros, testing these layouts by intentionally violating ground rules within defined ranges, and selecting or correcting rules based on a degree of acceptability, utilizing machine learning for optimization and electrical testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground rule verification macros are generated using traditional methods, then verification coverage is achieved, but resource consumption and time requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-verification by automatically generating test patterns and evaluating design rule violations without requiring extensive external verification resources. The macro generates its own test cases and evaluates compliance internally, reducing dependency on external verification infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of design rules and generates verification macros before full-scale manufacturing or deployment. By pre-evaluating potential violations and generating appropriate test patterns in advance, the system reduces the resources needed during actual production verification.
2Manufacturing precision
If ground rules are strictly enforced without allowing violations, then design quality is maintained, but testing efficiency and manufacturing flexibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts verification parameters and violation thresholds based on the specific design context and manufacturing capabilities. By allowing controlled violations within defined parameters and automatically adjusting acceptance criteria, the system maintains quality while improving testing efficiency and manufacturing flexibility.
3Reliability
If comprehensive electrical testing is performed on all design layouts, then reliability is ensured, but time and computational resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial testing by focusing computational resources on critical paths and high-risk areas of the design. Rather than exhaustively testing every possible scenario, the system identifies and tests only the most significant electrical functionality, achieving adequate reliability assurance with reduced time and resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Ground rule verification (“GRV”) design layouts may be automatically generated based on one or more design macros. The GRV design layout may be tested based on the one or more design macros by violating one or more ground rules using one or more GRV ranges. The testing may include electrical testing of the one or more GRV design layouts based on the one or more design macros. The one or more ground rules may be automatically selected and approved the based upon a degree of violation acceptability.