Standard Cell Layout Grid Snapping for IC Design Rule Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for creating integrated circuit layouts are time-consuming and prone to errors due to their reliance on a nanometer grid position, which limits flexibility and requires manual verification of design rules, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors in placement and manipulation of shapes.
Innovation Solution
A layout development tool that uses pre-defined grid coordinates and rules to restrict shape placement to specific, allowed positions, eliminating the need for manual measurement and ensuring compliance with foundry design rules, thereby streamlining the creation, copying, moving, and stretching of shapes within a standard cell architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If prior art tools use nanometer grid positions for shape placement, then designers have flexibility in positioning, but errors occur that are not detected until later design checks
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores all valid shape positions in a lookup table based on foundry design rules before the actual layout design. This preliminary computation ensures that only compliant positions are available to designers during interactive placement, preventing rule violations while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the lookup table generated by the layout development tool) between the designer's placement actions and the actual shape positioning. This intermediary pre-processes design rule constraints and presents only valid positions to the user, eliminating the need for manual verification while preserving placement flexibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual layout creation is performed for standard cells, then specific design requirements can be met, but the process is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The layout development tool performs preliminary computation of all valid shape positions and configurations before the actual layout design begins. By pre-calculating compliant positions and storing them in lookup tables, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual verification during the design process, significantly improving productivity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates reusable lookup tables that can be copied and applied across multiple standard cell designs. Once the valid positions are computed for a given set of design rules, the same lookup table can be reused for similar cells, eliminating redundant calculations and accelerating the layout creation process for entire libraries.
3Reliability
If prior art tools restrict placement to regular pitch grid, then foundry rules are followed, but the tools cannot be used on all shapes and lack versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The layout development tool generates universal lookup tables that work with any shape type and design rule set. The system is designed to handle different layers, shape geometries, and foundry rules through a unified approach, making it universally applicable across diverse layout design scenarios while ensuring rule compliance through pre-computed valid positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the valid position calculations based on the specific parameters of each shape and layer combination. By changing the input parameters (shape geometry, layer properties, design rules) and regenerating the appropriate lookup table, the tool maintains versatility across different design scenarios while ensuring compliance with the specific foundry rules applicable to each case.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations described herein are directed to providing standard cell architecture layout design. A request to activate a grid is received. A request to place at least one edge of a shape at a particular location on the grid is received from an input device. The at least one edge of the shape is automatically placed in an allowed location based on pre-defined rules.