Method and system for implementing context simulation
AssigneeCadence Design Systems, Inc.
InventorDavid White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for using pattern-dependent models at early stages of the design process. This addresses the key disadvantage of prior approaches which are restricted to using such models later in the design process for IC designs that are nearly complete. Pattern-dependent manufacturing effects are extracted from early stage designs and using the extracted pattern-dependent effects to efficiently and effectively design the integrated circuit. One or more contexts are built around one or more units of the design, with examples of units being a block or cell. The units are then used in the context to generate pattern-dependent data as a basis for one or more pattern-dependent models.
Claims20
A computer implemented method implementing an integrated circuit design, comprising:
- using at least one processor to perform a process, the process comprising:
- identifying a circuit feature to be designed in the integrated circuit design;
- identifying information or data for the circuit feature from at least one of a set comprising a prior design that includes the circuit feature, a random density of circuit features around the circuit feature in the integrated circuit design, or one or more design rules or constraints;
- and
- generating at least one context or environment, which includes at least one circuit feature with a random dimension or a random size, based at least in part upon the information or data that are identified to predict potential interactions between the circuit feature and the at least one context or environment during manufacturing by positioning the circuit feature at a plurality of locations within the at least one context or environment, wherein
- the potential interactions comprise a variation in the circuit feature caused by the at least one circuit feature with the random dimension or the random size in the at least one context or environment.
A computer program product that includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of computer instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute a method for implementing an integrated circuit design, the method comprising:
- using at least one processor to perform a process, the process comprising:
- identifying a circuit feature to be designed in the integrated circuit design;
- identifying information or data for the circuit feature from at least one of a set comprising a prior design that includes the circuit feature, a random density of circuit features around the circuit feature in the integrated circuit design, or one or more design rules or constraints;
- and
- generating at least one context or environment which includes at least one circuit feature with a random dimension or a random size, based at least in part upon the information or data that are identified to predict potential interactions between the circuit feature and the at least one context or environment during manufacturing by positioning the circuit feature at a plurality of locations within the at least one context or environment, wherein
- the potential interactions comprise a variation in the circuit feature caused by the at least one circuit feature with the random dimension or the random size in the at least one context or environment.
A system for implementing an integrated circuit design, comprising:
- at least one process that is to:
- identify a circuit feature to be designed in the integrated circuit design;
- identify information or data for the circuit feature from at least one of a set comprising a prior design that includes the circuit feature, a random density of circuit features around the circuit feature in the integrated circuit design, or one or more design rules or constraints;
- and
- generate at least one context or environment which includes at least one circuit feature with a random dimension or a random size, based at least in part upon the information or data that are identified to simulate potential interactions between the circuit feature and the at least one context or environment during manufacturing by positioning the circuit feature at a plurality of locations within the at least one context or environment, wherein
- the potential interactions comprise a variation in the circuit feature caused by the at least one circuit feature with the random dimension or the random size in the at least one context or environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.