Power Delivery Network Staple Removal for Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits, the limited space for routing power delivery networks and signal wires leads to challenges in placing power staples, which can decrease the area available for signal wire routing and increase voltage drop.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines power characteristics for a power delivery network based on logic cells, removes unnecessary power staples, and routes signal wires in the freed-up tracks, followed by reinserting power staples to optimize power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power staples are placed at fixed intervals before signal wires are routed (pre-placement flow), then voltage drop within the power grid is reduced, but the area available to route signal wires is decreased and routing flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing power staples during the placement flow based on power requirements before signal wire routing, ensuring power delivery optimization is established in advance while still allowing subsequent routing adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the power staple placement adaptive rather than fixed - the placement is determined based on actual power requirements of logic cells and can be adjusted during the design process, allowing both power optimization and routing flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If power staples are inserted after routing signal wires (post-placement flow), then routing flexibility is maintained, but the area in which power staples can be placed is limited by signal wire locations potentially increasing voltage drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs power staple placement as a preliminary action during the placement flow, determining staple locations based on power requirements before signal wire routing begins, ensuring optimal power delivery is established in advance
3Reliability
If power staples are placed during placement flow based on worst-case power requirements, then power delivery is ensured for maximum power requirements, but the number of power staples is greater than needed providing unnecessary current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using actual measured power requirements of logic cells rather than fixed worst-case assumptions, dynamically adjusting the power staple placement based on real power consumption data to optimize both reliability and quantity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining power requirements and optimizing power staple placement without manual intervention, using the actual power characteristics of the circuit to guide the placement decisions
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for generating an updated power delivery network. Generating the power delivery network includes determining power characteristics for a power delivery network of a circuit design based on logic cells of the circuit design. The power delivery network includes power wires and power staples connecting pairs of the power wires to each other. Further a first one or more of the power staples is remove from the power delivery network based on the power characteristics. Signal wires for the logic cells are routed after removing the first one or more of the power staples. Routing the signal wires includes routing a first signal wire of the signal wires in a routing track corresponding to the first one or more of the power staples.