Interposer Routing via Bump Group Cloning for Length-Matched Nets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current standalone routers are inadequate for handling complex interposer routing requirements, such as customized design rules and layer restrictions, leading to inefficient routing and long runtime, especially when route track utilization is high, and manual methods are labor-intensive and difficult to reuse.
Innovation Solution
An automated routing methodology for interposer designs that assigns signal nets to bump groups based on location and length-matching constraints, allowing for efficient routing by identifying unique bump groups, creating and placing RDL vias, and applying specialized routing algorithms, while also replicating routing solutions for clone groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standalone routers are used for interposer routing, then routing capability is provided, but routing time becomes extremely long and track utilization cannot be maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying routing patterns and grouping bumps into clusters before routing execution. The router pre-processes the design by identifying repeating routing patterns and organizing bumps into groups, so that when routing is performed, previously identified patterns can be replicated immediately rather than recalculated, dramatically reducing routing runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by duplicating routing results for signal nets with identical patterns. Once a routing solution is found for a particular bump group, the same routing is copied to all clone bump groups with identical patterns, eliminating the need to re-solve the same routing problem multiple times and significantly improving routing productivity.
2Reliability
If manual escape tile design is used, then routing requirements are met, but labor intensity increases and reusability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a generalized automated routing system that can handle multiple interposer routing scenarios through pattern identification and cloning. The router is designed to work with various design rules, layer restrictions, and routing patterns through a unified approach that identifies repeating patterns and replicates solutions across different bump groups, making the methodology reusable across diverse interposer designs without manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the routing system to automatically identify routing patterns, group bumps, and replicate routing solutions without human intervention. The automated router independently analyzes the design, identifies repeating patterns, performs routing on representative groups, and automatically clones results to other groups, eliminating the need for manual escape tile design and significantly reducing labor intensity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rip-up and reroute strategy is used, then routing adjustments are possible, but the strategy fails when route track utilization is close to 100%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying routing patterns and organizing bumps into groups before routing execution. The router pre-processes the design by identifying repeating routing patterns and organizing bumps into groups, so that when routing is performed, previously identified patterns can be replicated immediately rather than recalculated, dramatically reducing routing runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the routing problem into distinct bump groups based on pattern identification. By segmenting the overall routing task into independent groups with identical patterns, the router can solve each group once and replicate the solution, avoiding the need for iterative rip-up and reroute operations even when track utilization reaches 100%.
Data Source
AI summary
Automated routing of signal nets for interposer designs. Signal nets are defined by their endpoints (bumps). The nets and their corresponding bumps are assigned to bump groups, based on the relative locations of the bumps and also based on length-matching constraints for the nets. Some of the bump groups may be “clones,” where the routing for one bump group may also be applied to its clone. In order for two bump groups to be clones, the bumps in the two bump groups must have a same relative position (i.e., same bump pattern), and the nets in the two bump groups must be subject to the same length-matching constraint. The routing through the interposer for one of the clones is determined, and that routing is then replicated for the other clones.