Pattern Matching and Replacement in Integrated Circuit Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic design automation tools lack efficient techniques for specifying and replacing patterns in integrated circuit layouts, which are crucial for addressing electrical and design rule violations in complex and high-performance integrated circuits.
Innovation Solution
A system and technique that allows users to specify patterns to search for in an integrated circuit layout using a pattern description language, where a description file includes specifications for patterns to be searched and proposed replacement patterns, enabling the processor to find matches and replace them accordingly, with features like widening or narrowing tracks and moving layout features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pattern matching and replacement techniques are implemented in electronic design automation tools, then design efficiency and productivity are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary pattern description language and description file format that mediates between the user's design intent and the automated pattern matching system. This intermediary layer allows users to specify patterns and replacements in a readable, structured format without requiring complex programming, thus improving productivity while managing system complexity through abstraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by creating replacement patterns that replicate and modify original layout features. Instead of implementing complex transformation logic, the system copies matched patterns and applies modifications to create replacement instances, simplifying the replacement mechanism while maintaining design flexibility and improving processing efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If users can easily specify patterns using a description file, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision and pattern matching accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pattern specification process into distinct, manageable components within the description file format, including pattern identification, replacement definition, and parameter specification. This segmentation allows users to easily specify patterns through structured, modular entries while the system maintains precise matching through systematic processing of each segment, reconciling ease of operation with matching accuracy.
3Reliability
If pattern replacement is applied to fix electrical and design rule violations, then reliability is improved, but loss of time for processing and validation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining replacement patterns and validation rules in the description file before actual pattern matching occurs. This allows the system to prepare replacement strategies in advance, enabling faster processing during validation while ensuring design rule compliance, thus improving reliability without excessive time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and technique to specifies patterns to search for in an integrated circuit layout, and specifies proposed replacement patterns. A description file includes specifications for one or more patterns to be searched for. In the description file, for each pattern, there may be one or more proposed replacement patterns. The description file is read. Pattern matches, if any, in a layout are found. A proposed replacement pattern is tested in place of a matched pattern. If acceptable, the proposed pattern may be used to replace the matched pattern.