Automated Integrated Circuit Schematic Derivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional reverse engineering techniques for integrated circuits face challenges such as decreasing line dimensions and auto-route techniques, leading to manual intervention and lower quality automated schematic diagrams that are difficult for human comprehension.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for deriving a schematic diagram by receiving a working schematic diagram, identifying matching portions with existing diagrams from libraries, and replacing them to form a revised schematic diagram, utilizing automated processes and graph isomorphism algorithms to achieve high-quality diagrams comparable to manually drawn ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated systems are used for generating schematic diagrams, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes topographical imaging information from all layers of the IC to extract circuit elements and interconnects before schematic generation. This preliminary extraction and organization of data enables automated systems to achieve both high productivity and high precision by preparing structured information in advance that guides the schematic generation process
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that converts complex topographical images into extracted circuit elements and connectivity information. This intermediary representation serves as a bridge between the raw imaging data and the final schematic diagram, enabling automated systems to generate high-quality schematics by working with structured intermediate data rather than raw images
2Manufacturing precision
If manual techniques are used for reverse engineering, then schematic quality is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically extracting circuit elements, tracing interconnects, and generating schematic diagrams without requiring manual intervention. The automated system performs tasks that traditionally required human analysts, thereby maintaining high schematic quality while dramatically reducing the time required for reverse engineering analysis
3Productivity
If automated extraction systems are used, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex reverse engineering process into distinct modules: topographical image acquisition, circuit element extraction, interconnect tracing, and schematic generation. Each module handles a specific aspect of the analysis, which reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity through specialized processing for each task
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer-readable medium and system are described for deriving a schematic diagram representative of an integrated circuit (1C) comprising a plurality of circuit elements. In general, the method, computer-readable medium and system are configured to receive as input a working schematic diagram identifying at least some of the circuit elements, and at least one existing schematic diagram from one or more libraries thereof. Based on this input, at least a portion of the working schematic diagram that matches at least a portion of the at least one existing schematic diagram is identified and replaced, thereby forming a revised schematic diagram.