Standard Cell Dual-Output Routing for Electromigration Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of integrated circuits with reduced wiring cross-sectional areas leads to electro-migration issues, causing wiring opens or short-circuits due to increased current density.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a standard cell design with separate output pins and distinct routing paths for each, ensuring electrical disconnection outside the cell to reduce current density and prevent electro-migration, utilizing a method that groups load cells based on allowable load levels and connects output pins to input pins of specific cell groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the wiring cross-sectional area is reduced to increase integration density, then the area of stationary object is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to electro-migration causing wiring opens or short-circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single output signal into multiple separate output pins (first output pin and second output pin), each connected to distinct routing paths. This segmentation distributes the current load across multiple independent wirings, reducing the current density in each individual wiring and preventing electro-migration even when wiring cross-sectional area is reduced for higher integration density.
2Reliability
If multiple output pins are used to distribute load and reduce current density, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to separate routing paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate routing paths back together at the load cell level, where the first routing path and second routing path both connect to the same input pin of the load cell. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of distributed current flow while minimizing routing complexity by converging the paths at the destination rather than maintaining separate complex routing infrastructure throughout the circuit.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a standard cell including a first output pin and a second output pin configured to each output the same output signal, a first routing path connected to the first output pin, and a second routing path connected to the second output pin. The first routing path includes a first cell group including at least one load cell, the second routing path includes a second cell group including at least one load cell, and the first routing path and the second routing path are electrically disconnected from each other outside the standard cell.