Multi-Stage Hierarchical Network VLSI Layout Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VLSI layouts of Benes and butterfly fat tree networks are inefficient and complex, leading to large area requirements, high power consumption, and increased latency in integrated circuits.
Innovation Solution
The development of optimized multi-stage networks with VLSI layouts using only horizontal and vertical wires, employing hop wires or multi-drop hop wires, and exploiting spatial locality to reduce crosspoints and improve routability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing VLSI layouts of Benes and butterfly fat tree networks are used, then routing functionality is provided, but area requirements increase and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into multiple stages with each stage containing switches that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows for more efficient space utilization compared to traditional layouts, reducing the overall area requirements while maintaining full routing functionality across all switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a multi-stage hierarchical structure that effectively adds dimensional organization to the network layout. By arranging switches in multiple stages rather than traditional planar layouts, the design achieves better space efficiency and reduces the physical area required while preserving complete routing capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing VLSI layouts of Benes and butterfly fat tree networks are used, then routing functionality is provided, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network into multiple configurable stages, the patent enables selective activation of routing paths. This reduces the number of active crosspoints at any given time, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining full routing functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-stage structure with configurable switches enables dynamic routing decisions. The system can adaptively select optimal paths and deactivate unnecessary routing resources, reducing power consumption dynamically based on actual traffic requirements while preserving complete routing capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing VLSI layouts of Benes and butterfly fat tree networks are used, then routing functionality is provided, but signal latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-stage architecture segments the routing path into discrete configurable hops. This allows for optimized path selection at each stage, enabling shorter routing paths and reduced signal latency compared to traditional layouts, while maintaining full routing functionality through the segmented structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The configurable switches in each stage enable dynamic path optimization. The system can adaptively select routing paths that minimize latency based on current network conditions, reducing signal transmission time while preserving complete routing capability through the dynamic reconfiguration ability.
4Area of stationary object
If optimized multi-stage networks with hop wires are used, then crosspoints are reduced and area is reduced, but routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network into standardized multi-stage blocks with consistent internal structures, the patent reduces overall area requirements through efficient packing. The segmented modular design actually simplifies routing complexity by providing regular, predictable path structures compared to irregular optimized layouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-stage network structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides routing capability, achieves area efficiency through compact staging, and maintains manageable complexity through standardized stage designs. Each stage is universally applicable and can be reused, reducing overall system complexity despite the optimized configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Significantly optimized multi-stage networks including scheduling methods for faster scheduling of connections, useful in wide target applications, with VLSI layouts using only horizontal wires and vertical wires to route large scale partial multi-stage hierarchical networks having inlet and outlet links, and laid out in an integrated circuit device in a two-dimensional grid arrangement of blocks are disclosed. The optimized multi-stage networks in each block employ one or more slices of rings of stages of switches with inlet and outlet links of partial multi-stage hierarchical networks connecting to rings from either left-hand side or right-hand side; and employ hop wires or multi-drop hop wires wherein hop wires or multi-drop wires are connected from switches of stages of rings of slices of a first partial multi-stage hierarchical network to switches of stages of rings of slices of the first or a second partial multi-stage hierarchical network.