Software-Defined IC Variants for Defect-Tolerant Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing costs and yield loss in integrated circuits due to defects, particularly in field programmable gate arrays, are attributed to defects in configuration memory cells, which are more likely to occur and affect functionality, making it challenging to sell partially defective circuits.
Innovation Solution
Assigning integrated circuits with defects to variants that include non-contiguous deactivated regions covering the defects, allowing signal routing through these regions without affecting routability, thereby enabling the sale of partially defective circuits with reduced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If deactivated regions are created to cover defects in integrated circuits, then yield and saleability of defective circuits are improved, but signal routing capability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The deactivated regions are divided into multiple non-contiguous segments rather than forming a single continuous block. This segmentation allows signal routing to bypass defective areas by utilizing the gaps between deactivated segments, thereby maintaining routing capability while still covering defects for yield improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The deactivated regions are strategically positioned to cover defects only where necessary, with their size and location optimized to minimize impact on routing. The non-contiguous nature ensures that critical routing paths remain unaffected while defective areas are still covered
2Productivity
If larger deactivated regions are used to cover defects, then more defects can be covered improving yield, but the area available for signal routing decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using large contiguous deactivated regions that would block routing paths, the solution segments the deactivated areas into smaller non-contiguous regions. This allows adequate defect coverage while preserving sufficient routing area through the gaps between segments
Solution Approach 2:
The deactivated regions are arranged in a distributed pattern across the device area rather than concentrated in one location. This spatial distribution allows routing signals to navigate around deactivated regions using available paths in other areas of the device
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe assigning integrated circuits with defects as variants of the integrated circuit design. Each variant can deactivate different circuitry in the integrated circuit design. A location of the defect can be matched to a variant that has a deactivated region that covers the defect. The integrated circuit can then be assigned to that variant.