Inductance Calculation from RC Netlists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IC design tools require repeated extraction processes to calculate electrical characteristics, which is computationally expensive and inefficient, especially when inductance values are needed separately from resistance and capacitance values.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves separating the inductance extraction step from the RC extraction step, allowing for the efficient calculation and addition of inductance components to existing RC netlists, using criteria such as length, metal layer, and physical locations to select resistance components, and applying formulas to determine inductance based on resistance component dimensions and process descriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repeated extraction processes are used to calculate electrical characteristics, then comprehensive electrical parameters (resistance, capacitance, inductance) can be obtained, but computational cost and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the extraction process into two independent parts: (1) RC extraction that generates resistance and capacitance values from netlist data, and (2) inductance calculation that separately computes inductance values using the same netlist data. This segmentation allows RC and L extractions to be performed independently rather than through repeated full extractions, reducing computational overhead while maintaining parameter completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary RC extraction to obtain resistance values, netlist data, and geometric information before the inductance calculation step. This preliminary action prepares the necessary data structures and parameters in advance, so that when inductance values are needed, they can be calculated efficiently using preprocessed information rather than requiring a complete re-extraction of all electrical parameters.
2Measurement precision
If full extraction processes are repeated to obtain inductance values, then accurate inductance calculations can be performed, but processing time and computational resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the inductance component from the complete extraction process by utilizing already-obtained RC netlist data, geometric information, and material properties. Instead of performing a full extraction that computes all electrical parameters, the method takes out and calculates only the inductance values using selective formulas based on conductor geometry and proximity, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the computational parameters by switching from a full electromagnetic extraction that computes all parameters to a specialized inductance calculation that uses only the necessary geometric and material parameters (conductor dimensions, spacing, skin depth, permeability). This parameter change allows the calculation to focus computational resources on inductance-specific factors rather than recalculating resistance and capacitance parameters that are already known.
3Productivity
If RC and LK extractions are performed separately, then computational resources are reduced, but integration of results requires additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separately calculated RC netlist data and LK netlist data into a unified netlist structure that contains all electrical parameters (resistance, capacitance, and inductance values). The merging process integrates the data by combining parallel resistor and inductor elements into unified RL components, consolidating geometric information, and synchronizing node references, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the separate extraction processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary data structure that serves as a bridge between RC extraction results and LK calculation results. This intermediary structure stores netlist data, geometric information, and material properties in a standardized format that both extraction processes can read and write to, facilitating seamless integration without requiring complex custom processing logic for each extraction type.
Data Source
AI summary
A netlist may include a set of resistance components of an integrated circuit (IC) design, and may specify a length, a width, and a metal layer of each resistance component in the set of resistance components, and physical locations of circuit nodes connected to each resistance component in the set of resistance components. A process description may specify the resistivity and thickness of each metal layer in the IC design. For a resistance component in the set of resistance components, resistivity and thickness of the metal layer of the resistance component may be determined based on the process description, and an inductance component corresponding to the resistance component may be determined based on the length and the width of the resistance component, the resistivity and the thickness of the metal layer of the resistance component, and the physical locations of the circuit nodes connected to the resistance component.