Pin Layer Cell Routing Database Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor integrated circuit design, existing placement and routing methods often require higher metal layers for wire connections, increasing area and complexity while compromising design yield, as they struggle to efficiently connect cells within the same pin layer without violating design constraints.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to generate databases for routable cells in a pin layer, allowing cells to be connected at the M1 layer by adjusting their positions and orientations, thereby reducing the need for higher metal layers and facilitating efficient wire routing within the M1 layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cells are connected using higher metal layers, then wire routing can be achieved, but area increases and design yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the routing problem from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional space by utilizing vertical layer transitions. Cells are routed through intermediate layers (M2, M3, M4) to reach the pin layer, enabling connections that would be impossible in a single layer while optimizing the use of available routing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of routable cell pairs before final routing execution. By pre-processing cell compatibility information and organizing it into databases, the system prepares routing paths in advance, reducing complexity during the actual routing phase and improving overall design yield.
2Reliability
If cells are connected using higher metal layers, then wire routing can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the routing process into distinct segments: identification of routable cells, database generation for compatibility checking, and execution of routing. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high design yield through systematic processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate databases that store pre-computed compatibility information between cells. These databases act as mediators between cell placement and routing execution, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and simplifying the routing decision-making process.
3Area of stationary object
If cells are adjusted to enable M1 layer routing, then area and metal layer count are reduced, but placement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary adjustment of cell positions and orientations before final placement. By pre-processing cell configurations to identify those that can be routed in the M1 layer, the system reduces the need for complex adjustments during later stages, optimizing area usage while managing placement complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies cell parameters such as position and orientation to enable M1 layer routing. By systematically changing these parameters based on compatibility databases, the system achieves area reduction without requiring overly complex placement algorithms, as the changes are guided by pre-computed compatibility information.
4Adaptability or versatility
If more metal layers are used, then routing flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical layer transitions to achieve routing flexibility without requiring an excessive number of metal layers. By efficiently using the Z-dimension for layer transitions and optimizing in-layer routing paths, the system maintains high adaptability while minimizing the total layer count, thereby improving manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes routing parameters such as layer selection and path configuration to achieve maximum flexibility with minimum layer usage. By dynamically adjusting routing parameters based on cell compatibility databases, the system maintains adaptability while reducing the number of metal layers required, thus simplifying the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of wire routing is provided. The method comprises obtaining data of cell layouts, generating a first database for the cell layouts, identifying, for each cell in the first database, whether the cell and another cell in the first database are routable in a pin layer, and generating a second database for routable cells.