Keep-through regions for IC routing end-of-line rule compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current routing technologies face challenges in handling end-of-line rules, particularly at advanced process technology nodes, leading to inefficiencies in interconnect layout and performance due to inadequate handling of cut-metal insertion and design rule compliance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of keep-through regions during the routing process, which specifies areas where metal shapes can overlap but not have line ends, allowing for systematic compliance with end-of-line rules and improving routing density and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional routing methods are used without keep-through regions, then routing complexity is lower, but end-of-line rule compliance is inadequate and manufacturing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating keep-through regions before the actual routing process. These regions are pre-calculated based on end-of-line design rules and existing metal shapes, allowing the router to automatically comply with manufacturing rules without adding complexity during routing. The keep-through regions are inserted into the router's search space, enabling rule compliance to be handled in advance rather than as a constraint during routing exploration.
2Area of stationary object
If routing density is increased to improve area efficiency, then more interconnects fit in the design, but end-of-line rule compliance becomes more difficult and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces keep-through regions as an intermediary between the routing process and end-of-line design rules. These regions act as a mediator that absorbs the complexity of rule compliance, allowing high-density routing while automatically ensuring manufacturing precision. The keep-through regions are dynamically generated based on local routing conditions, enabling density optimization without sacrificing rule compliance.
3Manufacturing precision
If design rules are made more complex to accommodate advanced process technology nodes, then manufacturing precision improves, but routing complexity increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of end-of-line rule compliance from the routing process itself and places it into pre-generated keep-through regions. By taking out the rule compliance burden and embedding it in the search space geometry, the router can handle advanced process technology rules without increased complexity. The keep-through regions encapsulate all necessary rule information, allowing the routing algorithm to focus on pathfinding rather than rule checking.
Data Source
AI summary
A routing process applied to design integrated circuits uses keep-through regions. Keep-through regions specify areas which metal shapes may overlap but where metal shapes may not have line ends. The keep-through regions are generated based on end-of-line rules applicable to routing of the design. These keep-through regions are then used in determining the layout of interconnects for the design. The interconnects are composed of metal shapes, and the line ends of the metal shapes are located in accordance with the keep-through regions