Pattern-Aware Voltage Analysis for Circuit Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reliability verification tools in microdevice design often rely on iterative processes without simulation, propagating a common voltage and manually correcting electrical overstress violations, which is inefficient and prone to errors, especially in large circuit designs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing programmable pattern-aware voltage analysis tools that identify voltage-transition devices and set output voltages based on their characteristics, propagating these voltages through the circuit design to detect rule violations without simulation, using a pattern library to model voltage domains and transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If iterative voltage propagation without simulation is used, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of voltage-transition devices and their characteristics before voltage propagation. By pre-configuring voltage domains and transition rules based on device patterns, the system establishes accurate voltage models in advance, enabling both high-speed iterative propagation and precise voltage analysis without requiring full simulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer of voltage domain abstraction and transition device patterns between the circuit netlist and voltage propagation engine. This intermediary model captures essential voltage transition characteristics without full simulation complexity, enabling accurate yet efficient voltage analysis through pattern-based voltage domain identification and transition rule application.
2Reliability
If manual correction of electrical violations is performed, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically identifying voltage-transition devices, determining voltage domains, propagating voltages, and detecting electrical violations without manual intervention. The automated pattern recognition and voltage analysis engine continuously verifies design reliability, eliminating time-consuming manual correction cycles while maintaining high reliability through comprehensive violation detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where voltage propagation results automatically trigger violation detection, which feeds back into identifying additional voltage-transition devices and refining voltage domain models. This automated feedback mechanism continuously improves reliability verification without requiring manual time investment, as the system learns and adapts from each verification cycle.
3Device complexity
If pattern-based voltage domain identification is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by using different levels of pattern matching precision for different voltage-transition device types. Common devices use simplified patterns for fast identification, while critical or unusual devices use more detailed patterns for accurate voltage domain assignment. This localized precision approach reduces overall analysis complexity while maintaining measurement precision where it matters most.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pattern matching parameters and voltage domain resolution based on circuit context and violation severity. For routine verification, coarser patterns reduce complexity, while for critical violations or ambiguous cases, the system refines pattern detail and voltage domain granularity to maintain measurement precision without permanently increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a voltage analysis tool to perform a static power aware analysis on a circuit design without having to simulate the circuit design. The voltage analysis tool can determine a set of components in the circuit design corresponds to a design pattern representing a voltage-transition device, and set an output voltage for the set of components based, at least in part, on characteristics of the voltage-transition device. The voltage analysis tool can propagate the output voltage to other portions of the circuit design, and determine whether the portions of the circuit design receiving the output voltage have a rule violation.