Process Design Kit Update via Cell Use Information Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of updating process design kits (PDKs) for integrated circuit design is impractical due to the high processing time and costs associated with performing regression analyses on a large number of parameterized cell configurations, making it impossible to analyze all possible configurations within a reasonable timeframe.
Innovation Solution
A design scan script is employed to generate cell use information (CUI) reports, which identify critical targets for regression analysis, allowing the PDK to be revised based on these identified targets rather than all configurations, thereby reducing processing time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If regression analysis is performed on all possible configurations of all parameterized cells in the PDK library, then quality assurance and reliability are improved, but processing time and costs become excessively high and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large set of all possible pcell configurations into two subsets: critical targets (pcsells actually used in customer IC designs) and non-critical pcsells. The design scan script analyzes IC designs to identify which pcsells are actually used, then performs regression analysis only on those critical targets. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining quality assurance for used pcsells while avoiding unnecessary processing of unused ones, thus reducing processing time significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing regression analysis on all possible pcell configurations (excessive action), the patent applies partial action by analyzing only the subset of pcsells that are actually used in customer IC designs. The design scan script identifies these used pcsells through scanning actual design files, and regression analysis is then performed only on this partial set, resolving the time-quality contradiction.
2Reliability
If regression analysis is performed on all possible configurations of all parameterized cells in the PDK library, then quality assurance is improved, but costs become excessively high and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the regression analysis workload into critical targets (pcsells used in customer designs) and non-critical pcsells. By using the design scan script to identify actual usage patterns in IC designs, the system performs regression analysis only on the necessary subset, thereby maintaining quality assurance while significantly reducing the costs associated with processing all possible configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing regression analysis only on the partial set of pcsells that are actually used in customer IC designs, rather than on all possible configurations. This reduces the costs of PDK updates while maintaining quality assurance for the relevant pcsells.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of parameterized cell configurations is increased to provide more design options, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but the complexity of regression analysis increases making it impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large number of pcell configurations into those that are actually used in customer IC designs (critical targets) and those that are not used. The design scan script scans design files to identify which pcsells are actually instantiated, then regression analysis is performed only on this segmented subset. This maintains adaptability and versatility through support for many pcell configurations while reducing regression analysis complexity to manageable levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing regression analysis only on the partial set of pcell configurations that are actually used in customer designs, rather than on all possible configurations. This allows the PDK to maintain high adaptability and versatility with numerous pcell options while keeping the regression analysis complexity practical and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a process design kit (PDK) for integrated circuit (IC) designs and a computer-aided design (CAD) system that employs the PDK. The PDK includes a design scan script. When the script is executed by the CAD system, previously generated and stored IC designs are scanned and a report with cell use information (CUI) is generated. The CUI indicates the different parameterized cells (pcells) and different configurations thereof contained in the IC designs. Also disclosed is a PDK development system, which receives CUI reports from CAD system(s), compiles the CUI, and revises the PDK (i.e., develops an update or upgrade) based, in part, on the complied CUI. For example, the complied CUI can indicate critical targets that require a regression analysis during the PDK revision process. By limiting regression analyses to identified critical targets, the turn around time and costs associated with revising the PDK are significantly reduced.