Methods for analyzing integrated circuits and apparatus therefor
US7149674B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F30/3308
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of improving performance of a dual Vt integrated circuit is disclosed in which a first value is calculated for each transistor of the integrated circuit that has a first threshold voltage level. The first value is based at least in part on delay and leakage of the circuit calculated as if the corresponding transistor had a second threshold voltage level. One transistor is then selected based on the first values. The threshold voltage of the selected transistor is then set to the second threshold voltage level. The area of at least one transistor within the circuit is modified, and the circuit is then sized to a predetermined area. The process may then be repeated if the circuit performance fails to meet a defined constraint. In one embodiment, the performance determination includes calculating the leakage current of a set of DC-connected components into which the circuit is partitioned, determining dominant logic states for each of the components, estimating the leakage of each of these dominant logic states, and summing the weighted averages of these dominant components based on state probabilities.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.