Reliability-Based Routing Resource Selection for IC Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern programmable logic devices (PLDs) face challenges in testing and utilizing reliable routing resources due to their complexity and large size, leading to impractical testing of all routing resources and a lack of consideration for reliability in circuit design tools, which can result in unreliable designs.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to identify and prioritize routing resources based on reliability measures, calculated from fault type coverage data, to select more reliable resources during the routing phase, ensuring that higher reliability resources are favored over less reliable ones, even if it means compromising on other design constraints like timing or power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all routing resources are tested thoroughly, then reliability of routing resources is improved, but testing time and cost become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by testing only a subset of routing resources rather than all routing resources. Test patterns are selectively applied to specific routing resources based on design requirements, achieving sufficient reliability without the impractical cost of exhaustive testing of all routing resources in modern PLDs.
2Productivity
If conventional routing methods are used, then routing speed and resource utilization are improved, but design reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining reliability measures for routing resources before the routing process. Reliability data is pre-calculated and stored in a lookup table, allowing the router to quickly query and select reliable routing resources during design routing without compromising routing efficiency or requiring exhaustive testing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of circuit design for an integrated circuit (IC) can include identifying a plurality of routing resources, wherein each of the plurality of routing resources is associated with a reliability measure, and selecting routing resources for use in routing a circuit design for the according to, at least in part, the reliability measures. The circuit design for the can be routed using the selected routing resources.