Logic Cell Layout Across Mixed Row Heights for Delay-Density Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the design of integrated circuits, it is challenging to balance cell delay and placement density in unit-row height and mixed-row heights layout systems due to the fixed functions of pre-designed standard cells, making it difficult to optimize cell placement effectively.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of novel logic cell architectures, including jump-row and rectilinear cell structures, which allow for flexible placement across different row heights, optimizing transistor speed and signal delay by reconfiguring cell structures to balance the usage of doped rows and increase placement density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pre-designed standard cells with fixed functions are used in unit-row height or mixed-row heights layout systems, then cell placement can be performed using standard methodologies, but it becomes very challenging to balance cell delay and placement density
Solution Approach 1:
The logic cell is divided into multiple portions (first portion, second portion, third portion) that can be independently placed in different row types. This segmentation allows the cell to adapt to both single-row and multi-row height layouts, enabling better balance between cell delay and placement density while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular placement strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional two-dimensional placement constraints to a three-dimensional placement approach by allowing cell portions to be distributed across multiple row heights (vertical dimension). This enables placement in both single-row and multi-row height layouts, providing flexibility to balance delay and density without sacrificing manufacturing ease.
2Device complexity
If fixed-function standard cells are used, then design process is simplified, but optimization of cell placement density and signal delay becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The logic cell structure is designed to be universal, functioning effectively in both single-row and multi-row height layouts. The cell comprises portions that can be adaptively placed in different row configurations, enabling optimization of placement density and signal delay across various design scenarios without increasing design process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The logic cell structure allows dynamic adaptation to different placement scenarios. The cell portions can be configured and placed differently depending on whether single-row or multi-row height layouts are used, enabling optimized placement density and signal delay while maintaining a consistent design process framework.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional logic cell structures are used in mixed-row heights layout systems, then layout can be implemented, but usage efficiency of doped rows is not optimized and signal delay cannot be balanced
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the logic cell are optimized for different row types. The first portion can be placed in first-type doped rows while the second portion is placed in second-type doped rows, allowing each portion to utilize the local characteristics of its assigned row type. This local optimization maximizes doped row usage efficiency and enables balanced signal delay while maintaining ease of layout implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
A logic cell structure includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion, arranged to be a first layout of a first semiconductor element, is placed in a first cell row of a substrate area extending in a first direction. The second portion, arranged to be a second layout of a second semiconductor element, is placed in a second cell row of the substrate area. The third portion is arranged to be a third layout of an interconnecting path used for coupling the first semiconductor element and the second semiconductor element. The first, second and third portions are bounded by a bounding box with a height in a second direction and a width in the first direction. Respective centers of the first portion and the second portion are arranged in a third direction different from each of the first direction and the second direction.