Integrated Antenna Protection Cell for IC Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic design automation (EDA) for integrated circuits, antenna rule violations and clock skew issues arise due to the placement of antenna diodes far from input ports and the use of higher metal layers, leading to ineffective antenna protection and timing delays.
Innovation Solution
A standard cell library is developed that combines a buffer circuit with an antenna protection circuit, such as a diode, to address placement spacing and routing resource issues, ensuring effective antenna protection and reduced timing impact by keeping the antenna diode close to the input port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If antenna diodes are placed far from input ports and higher metal layers are used, then routing resources are improved, but antenna protection effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antenna protection circuit and buffer circuit into a single integrated cell structure. The antenna diode is placed adjacent to the input port within the same cell, eliminating the need for separate routing to distant protection circuits. This integration maintains effective antenna protection while simplifying routing resource management.
2Area of stationary object
If antenna diodes are placed far from input ports, then placement spacing is improved, but antenna protection effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the antenna protection circuit and buffer circuit into a single cell where the antenna diode is positioned adjacent to the input port. This integration achieves compact placement that maintains effective antenna protection while optimizing chip area usage through shared cell structure.
3Device complexity
If antenna protection circuit is separated from buffer circuit, then device complexity is reduced, but timing delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna protection circuit and buffer circuit into a single integrated cell structure. The antenna diode is placed adjacent to the input port within the same cell, eliminating the need for separate routing paths. This integration reduces timing delays by removing additional signal path length while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized cell design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively addresses antenna rule violations and clock skew by maintaining the antenna protection function while optimizing chip area usage, enhancing the reliability of integrated circuit designs.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna protection circuit connected between the input terminal and the second voltage terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A cell library stores a plurality of standard layout cells. A functional integrated circuit design is received, and a plurality of the standard layout cells are selected from the cell library based on the received functional integrated circuit design. A first standard layout cell from the cell library that is selected based on the received functional integrated circuit design includes a buffer circuit having an input terminal, an output terminal, a first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal, and an antenna protection circuit connected between the input terminal and the second voltage terminal.