Virtual Terminal Current Estimation for Partially Routed Nets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current estimation in partially routed electronic circuits is complex due to unknown future connections and terminal associations, making it difficult to satisfy Kirchhoff's Current Law, which is essential for identifying current density and electromigration errors.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a virtual terminal to represent the missing current needed to satisfy Kirchhoff's Current Law in partially routed nets, allowing for current propagation and wire width estimation, with options for automatic or manual generation and display of connection points and color coding for wire width analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If current estimation is performed in partially routed nets, then design convergence speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to unknown future connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual terminals as intermediary elements that represent unknown future connections in partially routed nets. These virtual terminals act as mediators between the known current terminals and the unknown future connections, allowing current propagation calculations to be performed while maintaining Kirchhoff's Current Law. The virtual terminals are assigned current values that balance the net, enabling accurate current estimation without requiring complete routing information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary current estimation actions in partially routed nets before the routing is complete. By calculating current distributions and identifying potential electromigration issues early in the design process, the system enables designers to make informed decisions about wire sizing and routing strategies before all connections are known, thus accelerating design convergence.
2Measurement precision
If virtual terminals are generated to satisfy Kirchhoff's Current Law, then current propagation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Virtual terminals serve as intermediary elements that simplify the mathematical representation of partially routed nets. Instead of dealing with complex boundary conditions and unknown connections, the virtual terminals provide a straightforward mechanism to enforce Kirchhoff's Current Law, making current propagation calculations more accurate and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of terminals that represent unknown connections. These virtual terminals are mathematical constructs that mirror the electrical behavior of future connections without requiring the physical connections to exist. This copying approach allows accurate current estimation while keeping the data structure manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for use with an electronic design. Embodiments may include receiving, using a processor, the electronic design and identifying a partially routed net associated with the electronic design. Embodiments may further include generating a net graph for the partially routed net and selecting a wire associated with the partially routed net. Embodiments may also include determining a missing current needed to satisfy Kirchhoff's Current Law (“KCL”) along a portion of the wire and generating a virtual terminal attached to the selected wire, wherein the virtual terminal is assigned the missing current.