Region-Aware Clock Driver Clustering for IC Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for constructing clock trees in integrated circuits (ICs) with multiple clocked devices are sub-optimal, leading to increased gate count, area, and routing resource usage due to assumptions of a single unique location for each clock driver, which results in inefficient clock buffer distribution.
Innovation Solution
A clock tree synthesis (CTS) tool performs region-aware clustering of clock drivers by identifying clustering regions based on driven elements and timing constraints, determining representative locations for each clock driver, and applying point-based clustering to minimize wire length and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional techniques assume a single unique location for each clock driver, then the clock tree construction is simplified, but gate count, gate area, and routing resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the IC design into multiple clustering regions, with each region containing a subset of clock drivers and their driven elements. This segmentation allows independent optimization within each region, reducing the overall gate count and routing resources while maintaining manageable construction complexity through localized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different clustering strategies to different regions based on local characteristics such as density of driven elements, timing constraints, and physical layout. Each clustering region is optimized independently with representative locations determined based on local conditions, achieving better resource utilization without increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional techniques assume a single unique location for each clock driver, then the design process is simpler, but gate area and routing resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design process is segmented into multiple independent clustering region optimizations rather than a single global optimization. This maintains ease of manufacture through modular processing while reducing total gate area by allowing compact local arrangements that exploit spatial relationships within each region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point-based clock driver locations to region-based clustering, adding a spatial dimension to the design process. Representative locations within clustering regions are determined considering two-dimensional layout constraints, enabling more efficient gate packing and reduced routing resources while keeping the design process systematic and manufacturable.
3Ease of operation
If clock drivers are distributed using conventional techniques, then implementation is straightforward, but clock buffer count and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clock driver distribution is segmented into multiple clustering regions, each optimized independently to minimize local buffer count and power consumption. The straightforward implementation is maintained through automated algorithms that process each region separately, while the cumulative effect across all regions achieves significant power reduction through optimized buffer placement and reduced clock tree depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from single-point clock driver locations to multi-point clustering regions with representative locations. This parameter change enables reduced clock buffer count by allowing multiple drivers to share common routing resources within regions, directly reducing power consumption while maintaining implementation simplicity through systematic optimization algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure address improved systems and methods for region-aware clustering in integrated circuit (IC) designs. Consistent with some embodiments, the method may include identifying a clustering region for each clock driver included in an IC design based on locations of sinks and blockages, and timing constraints. The CTS tool finds representative locations for each clock driver within their respective clustering regions. Given the representative location for each clock driver, the CTS tool applies point-based clustering to the clock drivers of the IC design to obtain one or more clusters.