Design techniques for analyzing integrated circuit device characteristics

Abstract

An improved method and system for integrated circuit device physical design and layout. The physical layout of the integrated circuit device is optimally stored in a database to provide improved analysis capabilities of the integrated circuit device's characteristics. The method and system evaluates local interactions between functional blocks and decoupling cells on a given floor plan of a chip using this optimized database in order to reduce memory and processor utilization. Local noise is projected by using dI/dt and capacitance estimates. Areas of highest noise concern are identified, and floor plan mitigation actions are taken by tuning the placement of neighboring decoupling cells and their properties. Upon several iterative cycles, a near optimal solution for a given floor plan of the total chip is achieved.