IC Power Line Layout for High-Power Cell Voltage Drop Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Voltage drops in power lines due to high-power consumption cells sharing a single power line in integrated circuits, which affect the performance and power integrity of the circuits.
Innovation Solution
Dispersively placing high-power consumption cells by interleaving alternating power lines to provide separate power supply voltages, reducing the number of cells sharing a power line and minimizing voltage drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple high-power consumption cells share a single power line, then the device complexity is reduced, but voltage drops occur affecting power integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery network is segmented into multiple interleaved power lines (first power lines and second power lines) that are alternately arranged. High-power consumption cells are distributed across different power lines, dividing the power delivery task among multiple separate paths rather than concentrating load on a single power line, thereby reducing voltage drops on any individual line.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the integrated circuit are assigned different power line configurations based on local power consumption characteristics. High-power consumption cells are specifically targeted for dispersal across multiple power lines, while low-power cells can share power lines more freely. This localized optimization ensures power integrity where needed without unnecessarily complicating the overall structure.
2Reliability
If high-power consumption cells are dispersively placed, then power integrity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The placement process is segmented into systematic steps: first placing low-power consumption cells in available rows, then identifying and placing high-power consumption cells in specific rows that minimize their impact on any single power line. This segmented approach transforms a complex global optimization problem into manageable local decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary placement of low-power consumption cells before placing high-power consumption cells. This preliminary action establishes a foundation that simplifies subsequent placement decisions, as the remaining space and power line capacity are already partially determined, making the dispersal of high-power cells more straightforward.
3Ease of manufacture
If high-power consumption cells are concentrated in specific rows, then ease of manufacture is improved, but voltage drops increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different placement strategies to different cell types based on their power consumption characteristics. Low-power consumption cells are freely placed in rows, while high-power consumption cells are selectively placed in specific rows that alternate with rows containing other high-power cells. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by making placement easy for most cells while protecting against voltage drops for power-intensive cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell population is segmented into high-power consumption cells and low-power consumption cells, each subjected to different placement rules. This segmentation allows the manufacturing process to remain simple for the majority of low-power cells while applying specialized dispersal logic only where needed to prevent voltage drops.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes standard cells, first power lines extending in a first direction and providing a first power supply voltage to the standard cells, and second power lines extending in the first direction and providing a second power supply voltage to the standard cells, the first power lines and the second power lines being interleaved alternately in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction to define a rows between adjacent ones of the first and second power lines. The standard cells include first function cells arranged in first rows, extending in the first direction, and performing a first function using the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage, and other standard cells other than the first function cells are arranged in second rows among the rows.