Patent · US Active

Budgeting electromigration-related reliability among metal paths in the design of a circuit

US8219953B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
6References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 2009
Grant dateJul 10, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/367
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apportioning unequally contributions of different metal paths of a circuit to electromigration (EM) reliability. In an embodiment, a corresponding parameter value representing a magnitude of excess current flowing in a single direction in each metal path is determined. A desired reliability measure for electromigration (EM) is apportioned among the metal paths based on computed parameter values for the corresponding metal path. A reliability analysis for the circuit is performed based on the apportioning. In an embodiment, metal paths which predominantly carry currents with an average value less than a threshold are excluded from being considered as contributors to EM degradation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.