Mixed-Row IC Layout Using Variable Cell Heights for PPA Trade-Offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IC layouts face challenges in optimizing power, performance, and area (PPA) considerations, as increasing cell height for performance improvement adversely affects power and area, while reducing cell height for power and area improvement compromises performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating rows of semiconductor devices with varying cell heights and active region widths, including tall cells for performance enhancement and short cells for power and area reduction, allowing for a mixed row configuration that balances PPA aspects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If cell height is increased to improve performance, then performance is improved, but power consumption and chip area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different cells in the same IC layout to have different heights tailored to their specific functional requirements. Performance-critical cells can be taller to provide higher speed, while non-critical cells remain shorter to conserve power and area. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each cell's height according to its individual needs rather than using a uniform height across the entire chip.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the IC layout into multiple rows with different cell heights, creating a heterogeneous structure where tall cells and short cells coexist. This segmentation allows the design to divide the chip into performance-optimized regions and power-efficient regions, thereby resolving the trade-off between performance and power consumption at the system level.
2Speed
If cell height is increased to improve performance, then performance is improved, but chip area increases
Solution Approach 1:
By allowing local variation in cell heights, the patent enables tall cells to be placed only where performance is critical, while short cells occupy spaces where area efficiency is more important. This localized approach resolves the contradiction between performance and area by optimizing the spatial distribution of different cell types based on functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the chip area into regions with different cell height characteristics, creating a mixed-row layout that balances performance-critical areas with area-efficient areas. This segmentation resolves the performance-area trade-off by allowing each region to be optimized independently.
3Use of energy by moving object
If cell height is reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by permitting short cells in regions where power efficiency is prioritized, while maintaining tall cells in performance-critical regions. This resolves the contradiction by allowing power reduction in non-critical areas without sacrificing overall system performance.
4Area of stationary object
If cell height is reduced to decrease chip area, then chip area is reduced, but performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By allowing local variation in cell heights, the patent enables short cells to be placed in area-critical regions while tall cells serve performance-critical regions. This resolves the contradiction between area and performance by optimizing the spatial distribution of cell heights according to local requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An IC device includes rows of semiconductor devices elongated along a first axis and arranged side-by-side along a second axis. The rows include first rows having a first height, and second rows having a second height smaller than the first height along the second axis. Each row includes first and second active regions of different conductivity types, and spaced from each other along the second axis. In one or more first rows, the first or second active region comprises a portion having a first width along the second axis, and a further portion having a reduced first width smaller than the first width. Alternatively or additionally, in one or more second rows, the first or second active region comprises a portion having a second width along the second axis, and a further portion having a reduced second width smaller than the second width.