Schematic Editor Automatic Device Parameter Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current schematic editors lack a process to automatically match device parameters such as length, width, and number of fingers in critical circuits, relying on manual inspection and communication to ensure identical layouts, which is inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a master device propagates its property values to cloned devices, ensuring that any changes made to the master device are automatically applied to the clones, preventing unauthorized changes to the cloned devices, and storing these properties in schematic libraries to enforce matching across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual inspection and communication are used to ensure device matching, then device matching can be achieved, but the process is inefficient and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-matching of devices through the schematic editor. The matching process no longer requires manual intervention or communication between designers. The schematic editor automatically identifies matching devices, propagates their parameters, and enforces consistency, allowing the design process to serve itself without external manual verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual inspection process with an automated computer-based system. Instead of designers manually comparing layouts and communicating to ensure matching, the schematic editor uses automated algorithms to identify matching devices, propagate their parameters, and enforce consistency, substituting human mechanical verification with automated computational processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If device parameters are manually verified, then matching can be ensured, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary matching verification during the schematic design phase itself, rather than as a separate post-processing step. The schematic editor automatically identifies matching devices and enforces parameter consistency as the design is being created, preventing mismatches before they occur rather than detecting them later during manual verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic feedback mechanisms where the schematic editor continuously monitors device parameters and provides real-time verification of matching conditions. When devices are identified as matches, the system automatically propagates their parameters and alerts designers to any inconsistencies, creating a closed-loop feedback system that ensures precision without requiring time-consuming manual checks.
3Productivity
If automated propagation of property values is implemented, then device matching efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The schematic editor is enhanced with universal matching functionality that can handle multiple device types and parameters through a single integrated system. Rather than creating separate tools for different matching scenarios, the patent implements a universal matching mechanism that automatically identifies matching devices, propagates their parameters, and enforces consistency across various device types, reducing the need for multiple specialized functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter copying from master devices to matched devices through automated propagation. Once matching devices are identified, the schematic editor automatically copies their critical parameters (such as channel width, channel length, and other geometric properties) to ensure consistency, eliminating the need for complex manual parameter management while maintaining high matching efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and computer program products for layout device matching driven by a schematic editor. Exemplary embodiments include identifying a master device in a circuit layout having at least transistors, the master device having property values including at least one of topology, name and device-type, identifying a cloned device linked to the master device, automatically propagating the property values to the cloned device, making changes to a design layout of the master device, including a change to the properties, and automatically propagating the changes to the design layout and the change to the properties of the master device to the cloned device.