Integrated Circuit Layout Optimization for Leakage Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuits face power leakage issues due to switching circuitry, which reduces battery life despite efforts to disable portions of the circuit and reduce power usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine the utilization of regions in an integrated circuit layout and select appropriate switch cell organizations to optimize the placement of switch cells, reducing leakage current by modifying the layout based on region-specific utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If switching circuitry is used to disable portions of the integrated circuit, then power usage is reduced, but leakage current increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower usageVSAvoidleakage current

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating switch cell organizations based on region-specific utilization characteristics. Different regions of the integrated circuit are assigned different switch cell configurations optimized for their specific power and performance requirements, rather than using a uniform approach across the entire circuit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the integrated circuit layout into multiple regions and applies different switch cell organizations to each region. This segmentation allows the circuit to be divided into zones with different power management characteristics, enabling targeted optimization of leakage reduction in low-utilization areas while maintaining performance in high-utilization areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If switch cells are added to reduce leakage in specific regions, then standby current is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandby currentVSAvoidswitch cell organization

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by providing multiple switch cell organizations that can be selected based on region utilization. The system dynamically chooses the appropriate switch cell configuration for each region according to its specific needs, allowing the circuit architecture to adapt to varying power and performance requirements across different areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters of the switch cell organization including the number of switch cells per region, their physical layout arrangements, and configuration characteristics. By varying these parameters based on region utilization, the patent optimizes the balance between leakage reduction and device complexity for each specific area of the circuit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20150186585A1Integrated circuit layouts and methods to reduce leakage

Publication Date: 2015.07.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An embodiment includes a method, comprising: receiving a layout of an integrated circuit having a plurality of regions; determining a utilization for each of the regions; for each region, selecting from among a plurality of switch cell organizations for the region in response to the corresponding utilization; and for each region, modifying the layout to include switch cells for the region according to the selected switch cell organization.