Modified Standard Cells With Charge Nets for Dynamic IR Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern integrated circuits face challenges in maintaining stable power delivery due to dynamic IR drop, particularly in high-performance designs, which can cause localized timing violations and functional failures, and existing solutions like decoupling capacitors are limited by available chip area constraints.
Innovation Solution
Integrate an additional port into dynamically impacted cells, coupled to a dedicated net through a PMOS or NMOS transistor, to supply or sink charge, effectively creating a local charge reservoir without requiring large-scale decoupling capacitor cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decoupling capacitors are placed near circuit elements to manage dynamic IR drop, then voltage stability is improved, but chip area is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charge storage function with existing standard cells by adding a dedicated port that connects to a charge storage network. Instead of placing separate decoupling capacitor cells, the charge storage capability is integrated into the cell structure itself, eliminating the need for additional dedicated capacitor cells while maintaining voltage stability during dynamic IR drop events
Solution Approach 2:
The modified standard cell performs multiple functions: it maintains its original logic functionality while also serving as a charge storage unit through the added port. The cell can both process signals and supply/sink charge during transient events, making it a multi-functional component that replaces the need for separate dedicated capacitor cells
2Reliability
If additional charge storage elements are added to mitigate dynamic IR drop, then timing violations are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charge storage function from the logic function by adding a separate dedicated port that connects to an independent charge storage network. This segmentation allows the charge storage capability to be added as a modular component that can be independently configured and connected to specific cells that experience dynamic IR drop, without complicating the overall cell structure
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 approach mitigates dynamic IR drop without significant physical modifications, ensuring stable voltage levels and preventing timing violations and functional failures, while optimizing layout area usage.
Implementation Method 1
The dedicated net is configured as a charge storage network that supplies or sinks charge to mitigate dynamic IR drop within the modified standard cell
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices identify a dynamically IR impacted cell in an integrated circuit. The one or more computing devices replace the identified dynamically IR impacted cell with a modified cell having a port. The one or more computing devices couple the port of the modified cell to a dedicated net configured to supply or sink charge. In another aspect of the disclosure, an integrated circuit is also provided. The integrated circuit includes a dedicated net, a modified standard cell including a port, a transistor coupled between the port and the dedicated net. The dedicated net is configured as a charge storage network that supplies or sinks charge to mitigate dynamic IR drop within the modified standard cell.