Automated Shielding Profile Design for Integrated Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing integrated circuits with shielding lines is time-consuming, as existing systems require manual insertion of shielding lines around specific net segments, which is inefficient in large circuits.
Innovation Solution
A method that automates the process of designing shielding in integrated circuits by allowing users to designate net segments for shielding, determining electrical communication with other segments, defining shielding profiles, removing non-continuous segments, and inserting vias to connect shielding profiles across different levels, thereby outputting the shielding profiles and vias for display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual insertion of shielding lines is used, then shielding can be added to specific net segments, but the process becomes time-consuming in large circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates shielding lines based on user input designating net segments for shielding. The automated shielding generator determines electrical communication paths, identifies net segments requiring shielding, and inserts shielding lines without manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous manual operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis by determining electrical communication relationships between net segments before generating shielding lines. Users first designate which net segments should be shielded, and the system pre-processes this information to automatically identify all net segments that require shielding based on their electrical connectivity, performing the complex analysis work before the actual shielding line insertion
2Productivity
If automated shielding generation is implemented, then time consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated shielding generator is integrated into the existing circuit design tool, serving multiple functions: it processes user shielding designations, determines electrical communication paths, identifies net segments requiring shielding, generates shielding line patterns, and outputs results to the display. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single unified system rather than requiring separate tools
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated shielding generator as an intermediary component between the user's shielding designations and the final circuit layout. This intermediary automatically processes the designations, determines electrical communication relationships, and generates the shielding lines, mediating the complexity between simple user input and the complex requirements of proper shielding implementation
3Reliability
If shielding lines are added around all net segments, then noise reduction is maximized, but design time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly adding shielding to all net segments, the system applies shielding locally only to those net segments that are determined to be in electrical communication with designated segments. The automated generator analyzes electrical connectivity and applies shielding selectively to specific local areas where noise reduction is actually needed, rather than applying it universally throughout the entire circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A method for designing shielding in integrated circuits, the method comprising, receiving a first input designating a first net segment profile on a first level in an integrated circuit for shielding, determining whether the designated first net segment profile is in electrical communication with other net segment profiles, determining whether the net segment profiles are located in a different level than the first net segment profile, defining a first shielding profile corresponding to the net segment profiles on the first level, defining a second shielding profile corresponding to the net segment profiles on the second level, determining and removing segments of the first shielding profile and the second shielding profile contact features of the integrated circuit, determining and removing segments of the first shielding profile and the second shielding profile are non-continuous, defining vias at the intersections of first shielding profile and the second shielding profile.