IC Layout Integration With Black-Box Circuit Macro Placeholders
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Solution Overview
Problem
IC design complexity and time-to-market challenges arise from integrating circuit macros developed in parallel, requiring designers to wait for their completion.
Innovation Solution
Using black boxes as placeholders for circuit macros in the IC layout, connected by a connectivity network and filled with dummy patterns to maintain uniform pattern density, allowing parallel design tasks before macro development is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If circuit macros are integrated into an IC where multiple circuit macros are developed in parallel, then the overall IC design cycle is saved, but designers have to wait for the circuit macros to be fully developed which takes quite some time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using black boxes as placeholders in the IC layout before the actual circuit macros are fully developed. This allows the layout design to proceed in advance while the circuit macros are still being developed, eliminating the waiting time and enabling parallel development of layout and macro components.
2Productivity
If black boxes are used as placeholders for circuit macros in the IC layout, then the IC design cycle is shortened by enabling parallel development, but the layout requires additional steps for replacing black boxes with actual macros and maintaining uniform pattern density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses black boxes as intermediary elements that mediate between the layout design process and the final circuit macro integration. These placeholders allow the layout to be designed independently and then easily replaced with the actual macros, simplifying the overall process despite the additional replacement step.
Solution Approach 2:
The black boxes serve as simplified copies or representations of the actual circuit macros in the layout. They replicate the necessary interface information (pins, connections) without requiring the complex internal circuitry, allowing the layout to be developed and finalized before the actual macros are ready.
3Ease of manufacture
If dummy patterns are inserted into the IC layout to maintain uniform pattern density, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the layout design process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by inserting dummy patterns into the layout at the placeholder stage (when black boxes are present) rather than waiting until the final macro integration. This ensures uniform pattern density is established early in the design process, simplifying the overall manufacturing preparation despite the additional design step.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for making an integrated circuit (IC) includes inserting black boxes into a layout of the IC; connecting the black boxes with a connectivity network; and inserting first dummy patterns in areas of the layout outside of the black boxes and the connectivity network. After the inserting of the first dummy patterns, the method further includes replacing the black boxes with circuit macros that have one-to-one correspondence with the black boxes, wherein each of the circuit macros includes circuit patterns in a central area of the respective circuit macro and second dummy patterns surrounding the central area. In the method, at least one of the following operations is performed by an electronic design automation (EDA) tool: the inserting of the black boxes, the connecting of the black boxes, the inserting of the first dummy patterns, and the replacing of the black boxes with the circuit macros.