IC Layout Clip Generation with Hierarchical Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapidly growing field of automatically generated integrated circuit (IC) designs faces a daunting challenge in analyzing and qualifying a vast number of possible designs for semiconductor chips, with the number of potential designs exceeding current computational capabilities due to the large number of possible pixel configurations, necessitating efficient tools for filtering and classification.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating an initial set of IC design layout clips, removing non-compliant ones based on specified usefulness criteria, and recursively combining pairs of clips while applying rotation and reflection to produce a final set of clips that satisfy design rule checker requirements and uniqueness, using Manhattan Shape Signatures for classification and fingerprinting to efficiently manage and manufacture valid designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all possible pixel configurations are generated to ensure complete design coverage, then design completeness is improved, but computational complexity increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the design space by introducing hierarchical classification levels (generation 0, 1, 2, etc.) where each level represents a specific complexity threshold. Designs are divided into discrete classes based on the number of pixels, allowing systematic exploration from simple to complex configurations without generating all possible combinations at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary filtering by establishing and applying usefulness criteria (DRC rules, manufacturing constraints, design preferences) before full generation. This pre-filtering eliminates invalid configurations early in the process, preventing computational waste on designs that would fail validation anyway.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all possible IC design layouts are generated to ensure complete coverage, then design coverage is improved, but processing time increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the exhaustive search space into manageable generations based on pixel count thresholds. Each generation processes designs with a specific number of pixels (e.g., generation 0 has 1-2 pixels, generation 1 has 3-4 pixels), enabling parallel processing and memory-efficient storage while maintaining complete coverage over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification and filtering at each generation level before proceeding to the next. By applying usefulness criteria early and maintaining only valid designs in each generation, the system avoids processing invalid configurations and reduces overall processing time while ensuring complete coverage of valid design space.
3Productivity
If classification and filtering are applied to reduce design set size, then processing efficiency is improved, but risk of excluding valid designs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary filtering using well-defined usefulness criteria including DRC rules, manufacturing constraints, and design preferences. These criteria are established beforehand and applied systematically at each generation level, ensuring that only designs meeting all validity requirements are retained while maintaining processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each generated design is evaluated against the usefulness criteria, and results feed into the next generation's generation process. This systematic feedback loop ensures that filtering decisions are based on objective validity checks rather than arbitrary exclusions, maintaining reliability while improving efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for systems and methods for generating the complete set of IC design layout clips, or any part of the complete set, satisfying usefulness criteria and of a prespecified size. A method includes generating an initial set of integrated circuit (IC) design layout clips as a current set of IC design layout clips. The method includes removing any of IC design layout clips from the current set of IC design layout clips that do not meet the one or more usefulness criteria. The method includes, while a size of the IC design layout clips is less than a desired clip size, generating a new set of IC design layout clips from the current set of IC design layout clips according to every combination of pairs of the design layout clips in the current set of IC design layout clips, and repeating the removing process. The method includes, when the size of the IC design layout clips is not less than the desired clip size, storing the current set of IC design layout clips as a final set of IC design layout clips.