The present invention relates generally to a technique that use moment computation to estimate crosstalk noise of nanometer VLSI interconnects, and more particularly to the moment computation of nonuniform distributed RLC coupled trees and the projection-based order reduction method.
With the improvement of semiconductor producing technology, interconnect models get more and more important in the design flow of VLSI. While due to quality consideration, increasing timing frequency, decreasing ascending time, increasing online density and use of low-resistance materials, etc. in circuit design, designers should take into consideration of inductance effect at time of constructing interconnects. Also, due to the creation of nanotechnology in recent years, the importance of mutual inductance increases gradually. In the condition that RC is merely taken into consideration, the estimation of crosstalk noise is not accurate (refer to Interconnect Analysis and Synthesis written by C. K. Chang, J. Lillis, S. Lin and N. H. Chang, published by John Wiley and Sons Inc. in 2000). More and longer parallel nets will multiply capacitance coupling and increase current change on victim nets. Inductance added onto aggressor nets will cause more overshooting voltage, and further exacerbate noise on victim nets. The above two phenomena will lead to error in traditional estimation of crosstalk noise. According to the actual condition, inductance is necessary to be introduced to interconnect models to construct RLC coupled trees.
In the prior technology of estimating crosstalk noise, simulation is generally carried out in circuit. However, though the result of simulation carried in VLSI interconnects is considerably accurate, the computation complexity increases correspondingly. In order to solve this problem, the so-called Model-Order Reduction is gradually adopted in prior technology. (Provided by L. T. Pillage and R. A. Rohrer in “Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation for Timing Analysis,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 352-366 in 1990, P. Feldmann and R. W. Freund in “Efficient Linear Circuit Analysis by Pade Approximation Via the Lanczos Process,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 639-649 in 1995, and A. Odabasioglu, M. Celik and L. T. Pileggi in “PRIMA: Passive Reduced-order Interconnect Macromodeling Algorithm,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 17, No. 8, pp. 645-653 in 1998). This invention adopts order reduction method to estimate crosstalk noise. However, though the order reduction method can decrease the complexity of noise estimating computation, the computation is still too complicated in the process of noise optimization.
Among different prior technologies of model order reduction, most of them adopt moment matching method in crosstalk noise estimation in interconnects. In consideration of computation efficiency, many traditional methods to estimate crosstalk noise are developed in RLC coupled trees. The traditional technology includes One-Pole Model, 1P (A. Vittal, L. H. Cheng, M. Marek-Sadowska, K. P. Wang and S. Yang, “Crosstalk in VLSI Interconnects,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 18, pp. 1817-1824 (1999), and A. Vittal and M. Marek-Sadowska, “Crosstalk Recuction for VLSI,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 16, pp. 290-298 (1997), Modified One-Pole Model, M1P (Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, “Moment Computation of Lumped and Distributed Coupled RC Trees with Application to Delay and Corsstalk Estimation,” Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 89, No. 5, pp. 772-788 (2001); Two-Pole Model, 2P (M. Kuhlmann and S. S. Sapatnekar, “Exact and Efficient Corsstalk Estimation,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 20, No. 7, pp. 858-866 (2001), and Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, “Moment Computation of Lumped and Distributed Coupled RC Trees with Application to Delay and Crosstalk Estimation,” Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 89, No. 5, pp. 772-788 (2001), Stable Two-Pole Model, S2P (E. Acar, A. Odabasioglu, M. Celik and L. T. Pileggi, “S2P: A Stable 2-Pole RC Delay and Coupling Noise Metric,” Proceeding 9th Great Lakes VLSI Symposium, March 1999, pp. 60-63), and Stable Three-Pole Model, S3P (Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, “Moment Computation of Lumped and Distributed Coupled RC Trees with Application to Delay and Crosstalk Estimation,” Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 89, No. 5, pp. 772-788 (2001). The difference from the general model order reduction is that the above prior methods simply estimate peak value and its time of crosstalk noise, instead of waveform of crosstalk noise. Others existing American patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,695, U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,395, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,506, U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,355, U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,359, U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,935, U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,022 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,149, etc. provide the application of crosstalk noise estimation. However, crosstalk noise in interconnects is probably non-monotonic waveform. None of the above estimating methods of capacitance crosstalk noise is suitable to estimate inductance crosstalk noise.
Some existing traditional technologies provide delay and noise formula with considering self inductance and mutual inductance. However, this model only applies to double parallel net (Y. Cao, X. Huang, D. Sylvester, N. Chang and C. Hu, “A New Analytical Delay and Delay and Noise Formulas with Considering Self Inductances and Mutual Inductances,” Proceedings of IEDM 2000, 2000, pp. 823-826); Other traditional technologies provide analytic formula of RLC transmission line computation delay and overshooting voltage, but without research of the influence of inductance on crosstalk noise analysis (M. H. Chowdhury, Y, I. Ismail, C. V. Kashyap and B. L. Krauter, “Performance Analysis of Deep Sub Micro VLSI Circuits in the Presence of Self and Mutual Inductance,” Proceedings of ISCAS 2002, 2002, pp. 197-200); In the existing technologies, recursive algorithm is provided to compute RLC tress moment in linear time (C. L. Ratzlaff and L. T. Pillage, “RICE: Rapid Interconnect Circuit Evaluation Using AWE,” IEEE Transaction on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 763-776 (1994), Q. Yu and E. S. Kuh, “Exact Moment Matching Model of Transmission Lines and Application to Interconnect Delay Estimation,” IEEE Transaction on VLSI Symposium, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 311-322 (1995). However, this technology does not provide moment formula of coupled circuit. The inventor's previous application, “Method of VLSI to estimate crosstalk noise in lumped RIC coupled interconnects” provided an algorithm to estimate crosstalk noise in circuit by means of lumped RLC model with an aim at RLC coupled trees in VLSI. However, section number of lumped circuit should be increased to make the result of simulation more accurate, and this, on the contrary, increases the program EMS memory loads and the whole computation time. In addition, the inventor's previous application, “Designing method and proof of nanometer VLSI to estimate crosstalk noise in distributed RIC coupled interconnects” once provided an algorithm to estimate crosstalk noise in circuit by means of unitary and uniform RLC model with an aim at RLC coupled trees in nanometer VLSI. However, in the existing circuit designing flow, the design of part of circuit adopts nonuniform distributed interconnects to optimize circuit operation. Therefore, unitary and uniform disturbed interconnects fail to analyze this special design.
This invention aims at nonuniform distributed coupled RLC trees and carries out crosstalk noise estimation. The traditional technologies merely concentrate on distributed circuit that is necessary to circuit simulation. For example, R. Achar and M. S. Nakhla “Simulation on High-Speed Interconnects,” Proceeding IEEE, Vol. 89, No. 5, pp. 693-728, in 2001, A. C. Cangellaris, S. Pasha, J. L. Prince and M. Celik, “A New Discrete Transmission Line Model for Passive Model Order Reduction and Macromodeling of High-Speed Interconnections,” IEEE Transaction on Advanced Packing, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 356-364, in 1999, M. Celik and A. C. Cangellaris, “Simulation of Dispersive Multiconductor Transmission Lines by Pade Approximation Via the Lanczos Process,” IEEE Trans. Microwave. Theory Tech., Vol. 44, No. 12, pp. 2525-2533, in 1996, M. Celik and L. T. Pileggi, “Simulation of Lossy Multiconductor Transmission Lines Using Backward Euler Integration,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I-Fundam. Theor. AppI., Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 238-243, in 1998, P. K. Gunupudi, R. Khazaka, M. S. Nakhla, T. Smy, and D. Celo, “Passive Parameterized Time-Domain Macromodels for High-Speed Transmission-Line Networks,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., Vol. 51, No. 12, pp. 2347-2354, in 2003, J. M. Wang, C. C. Chu, Q. Yu, and E. S. Kuh, “On Projection-Based Algorithms for Model-Order Reduction of Interconnects,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I-Fundam. Theor. Appl., Vol. 49, No. 11, pp. 1563-1585, in 2002 and Q. Xu and P. Mazumder, “Accurate Modeling of Lossy Nonuniform Transmission Lines by Using Differential Quadrature Methods,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., Vol. 50, No. 10, pp. 22233-2246 in 2002. However, up to now, there is still no efficient nonuniform distributed circuit model to estimate noise.
This invention provides nonuniform distributed RLC coupled trees interconnects in nanometer VLSI, adopts moment matching method to efficiently estimate crosstalk noise while abandoning lumped circuit model with the traditional subsection method so as to shorten the computation time in the process of circuit simulation, and adopts nonuniform distributed model so as to be more approximate to the actual circuit design. Though in substance distributed circuit is a limitless series system, it approximately seems to be a limited series system in the form of multinomial moment model. Voltage and current moment model in nonuniform distributed circuit are approximate to a coordinate function multinomial, while the circuit parameter can be computed by means of data interpolation method. The moment model of every nonuniform distributed RLC coupled circuit includes one resistance, one independent power source and two independent voltage sources, which can reflect the information of resistance, capacitance, coupled capacitance, inductance, mutual inductance and moment. This invention additionally provides an order reduction moment computation formula. Each coefficient on multinomial moment model can be computed by order reduction computation and crosstalk estimating method of stable nonuniform distributed RLC coupled trees can be constructed by using projection-based order reduction method to compute the crosstalk noise of this order reduction series model, which can be regarded as the estimated value of crosstalk noise in the original circuit.
of q poles, it is to compute the coefficient {a0,a1, . . . ,aq-2} based on the moment values in step 24 with moment matching method. In step 26, it is to show {circumflex over (V)}(s) in the form of pole-residue,
and then to transform it into {circumflex over (v)}(t)=k1ep
This invention intends to use projection-base order reduction method to solve the above stability problem so as to create a stable order reduction method to solve the problem of crosstalk noise. This technique uses congruence transformation to project vector of the original n dimension to vector of order deduction q dimension, and q<<n, among which, q is determined in step 12.
In the nonuniform distributed circuit model provided by this invention, the crosstalk waveform can be expressed as {circumflex over (v)}(t)=k1ep
The prior technology provides that limitless series distributed circuit is simulated in limited series model by using integrated-congruence transform. By means of this technology, MNA formula can be expressed as the following formula:
According to the circuit parameter provided in step 14, matrix M includes matrix {circumflex over (M)}d, lumped capacitance matrix C and lumped inductance matrix L in nonuniform distributed order reduction method. Matrix N includes matrix {circumflex over (N)}d, lumped resistance matrix R, lumped conductance matrix G and Ad, Al incident matrix in nonuniform distributed order reduction model to balance Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) equation. Matrix X(s) is the transformation function of system condition variable, including system condition variable {circumflex over (X)}d(s) in nonuniform distributed order reduction model, voltage vector Vn(s) in node and current vector IL(s) in resistance-inductance branch; Matrix b includes incident matrix As showing the connecting method of input signal Vn(s) and circuit model. In formula (1), (s{circumflex over (M)}d+{circumflex over (N)}d){circumflex over (X)}d(s)=AdVn(s) represents the circuit condition formula in nonuniform distributed order reduction model.
X(s) expands in Taylor Series when frequency s=0 and series k system moment vector is Xk[{circumflex over (X)}d,k Vu,k Il,k], among which, {circumflex over (X)}d,k, Vn,k and IL,k represent the system moment of {circumflex over (X)}d(s), Vn(s) and IL(s) respectively in series k. While the former q system moment can all be computed in step 16.
Moment Model in Nonuniform Distributed RLC Coupled Circuit
One group of RLC coupled trees includes several independent RLC decoupled trees, coupled capacitance and mutual inductance. Each RLC decoupled tree includes floating resistance and self inductance, as well as capacitance that connects tree node and the ground. If the root of one independent RLC tree connects with one input voltage source, this tree is called aggressor tree. On the contrary, if the root of this RLC tree directly connects with the ground, this tree is called victim tree. If self inductance and mutual inductance are deleted from the circuit, it turns into the regular RC tree circuit model in the traditional estimating technique of crosstalk noise. In this invention, coupled interconnects are transformed into RLC coupled trees to analyze crosstalk noise.
The symbols are now detailed to demonstrate the complete RLC coupled trees. In consideration of N nonuniform distributed coupled transmission lines in
The voltage transformation function on node nji is defined as Vji(s), and the transformation function of current passing by nji is defined as Iji(s). V0i(s)=Vsi represents the voltage of root n0i in circuit trees, among which, Vsi represents the voltage source connecting between root of tree Ti (i.e. n0i) and the ground. In case Vsi=1, tree Ti is regarded as an aggressor tree. On the contrary, tree Ti can be regarded as a victim tree. Vji(s) and Iji(s) expands in Taylor Series in case s=0, then
among which, Vj,ki is called the voltage moment in series k of Vji(s), and Ij,ki is called the current moment in series k of Iji(s). The voltage moment −Vj,li in the first series on node nji is the common Elmore delay model. This invention will compute the moment Vj,ki and Ij,ki in series k according to each node nji in tree structure.
Moment Computation in Nonuniform Distributed RLC Coupled Tree Interconnects
This invention intends to transform the lumped circuit between RLC coupled trees nji and its father node F(nji) in the prior technology (the previous application “Method of VLSI to estimate crosstalk noise in lumped RIC coupled interconnects” by the inventor) into nonuniform distributed circuit Lineji. Make vji(x,s), iji(x,s) and ie
Among which,
(x) represents all capacitance values on Lineji, including self grounding capacitance and coupled capacitance aggregation. In consideration of
Among which,
represent the progressive resistance, inductance and mutual inductance in the position of x on Lineji respectively. Formula (3) and (4) can be deduced by Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL), and formula (5) can be deducted by Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL).
In order to simplify formula (4) and (5), the circuit current moment ic
In addition, all circuit parameters, such as rji(x), lji(x), cji(x), ccji(x) and mmji(x) all approximate to q term multinomial, among which, each coefficient can be computed by Interpolation Technique. Therefore, step 106 is to compute the following multinomial from the multinomial multiplication integral in formula (5) with analytic method:
It should be noted that all coefficients can be computed by means of recursive moment computation in the prior technology (the previous application “Method of VLSI to estimate crosstalk noise in lumped RIC coupled interconnects” by the inventor); In formula (6), it can be seen that the multinomial in series 0 ic
In step 108, it is to estimate whether a and β in coefficients can be computed, otherwise, return to step 106 by recursive computation. Step 110 is to finish the computation of current transformation function moment ic
Establishment of Matrix MNA of Simplified and Stable Pole Model
In consideration of
1. {circumflex over (m)}ij=−Xl-1TNXj=−{circumflex over (n)}i,j+1;
2. {circumflex over (m)}ij=Xj−1TMXl-1=−Xj−1TNXi=−{circumflex over (n)}j,i+1.
We can see from the prior technology (the previous application “Method of VLSI to estimate crosstalk noise in lumped RIC coupled interconnects” by the inventor), the steps to compute different elements in matrix {circumflex over (N)} can be further simplified. By observing the elements in the first line and the first row in matrix {circumflex over (N)}, we can discover the following relation:
It can be computed by inserting the data into Xk=[{circumflex over (X)}d,k Vn,k IL,k]T:
{circumflex over (m)}k,l=−({circumflex over (X)}d,k-1T{circumflex over (M)}d{circumflex over (X)}d,l-1+Vn,k-1TCVn,l-1+IL,k-1TLIL,k-1) (7)
We can discover the following relation by observing formula (1):
NX0=b
NXi+1=−MXi, for i=0,1, . . . ,q′
It can be computed by inserting the data into {circumflex over (n)}k,l=Xk-1TNXl-1
Alike, the coefficients gj,ni and hj,ni in the above formula can be computed from multinomial by multiplication integral with analytic method.
In consideration of the circuit of two grounding capacitances and one coupled capacitance in
ic
ic
Therefore, coupled capacitance can be regarded as two current sources. When there are many coupled capacitances in circuit, the model of each decoupled current moment is as follows:
The current moment ij,ki in series k is the aggregation of capacitance current source in series k corresponding to each node after node
then the equivalent circuit of coupled capacitance is as shown in
Finally, in step 160, the moment model in RLC coupled circuit can be established, as shown in
ij,ki(0)=ij,ki(d)+Jj,ki (9)
Among which,
represents the aggregation of all capacitance currents on Lineji. Alike, formula (5) can be also expressed as
Ej,ki and ELM
Combination of Nonuniform Distributed Coupled Circuit with RLC Coupled Trees
In this invention, line(nji) is used to represent interconnects between nji and F(nji). In case line(nji)=1, it is to represent that there is one net between nji and F(nji), otherwise, line(nji)=0. Rji and Lji are the resistance and inductance on line(nji). Cj,0i is the grounding capacitance of nji; Cj,j
In the computation of circuit model moment, in order to process nonuniform distributed coupled circuit at the same time, the current moment Ij,ki in series k in lumped circuit in the prior technology (the previous application “Method of VLSI to estimate crosstalk noise in lumped RIC coupled interconnects” by the inventor) is applied and modified as:
Each current moment can be computed in the direction from leaf node in Ti to root node. The relation between voltage moments Vj,ki and VF(i),ki is as follows:
The complexity of recursive moment computations in nonuniform distributed circuit provided by this invention is O(nk2), among which, n is the number of nodes in tree model. On the other hand, the computation complexity applied in lumped circuit model is o(mk), among which, m is the number of nodes in the lumped circuit model. Generally speaking, in order to make the result of simulation of lumped circuit more accurate, it is to make m>nk, so the complexity of model moment computation of nonuniform distributed circuit provided in this invention is less than that of the computation in lumped circuit model.
Update Moment Values According to the Input Signals
In the previous moment computation, input waveform is supposed to expand to the frequency domain under the step function. However, the input signals in step 10 are probably random signals, which make the transformation function in step 22 after moment update as follows:
For example, if the input signal in step 10 is ramp function, it can be expressed as:
Among which, u(t) represents series function and 1/τ is the ramp rate of ramp function. After x(t) processes Laplace Transform, it can conclude:
After coefficient matching, it can conclude:
After moment update computation, it can conclude the voltage moment of each node in interconnects under random waveform input.
Crosstalk Noise Estimation in Nonuniform Distributed RLC Coupled Trees
In step 20, it is to apply matrix {circumflex over (N)} and {circumflex over (M)} in step 18 to compute the coefficient {b1b2, . . . ,bq} of formula |{circumflex over (N)}+s{circumflex over (M)}|=1+b1s+b2s2+ . . . +bqsq. Later in step 24, make the order reduction formula {circumflex over (V)}(s) of q pole as follows:
Therefore, when time t approximates to 0 or 8, its approximate crosstalk noise {circumflex over (v)}(t)=0. It is to make use of 2q-1 moments {V1,V2, . . . ,V2q-1} of the original model to compute the unknown coefficient ai(0≦i≦q-2).
In step 26, formula (13) is shown in the pole-residue form:
Among which, pi,i=1,2, . . . , q is the pole of {circumflex over (V)}(s), ki is the residue corresponding to each pole pi. It can be concluded by Inverse Laplace Transformation:
{circumflex over (v)}(t)=kiep
If crosstalk {circumflex over (V)}(s) reaches to the peak value in case t=tm, then {circumflex over (v)}′(tn)=0 and {circumflex over (v)}″(tm)<0. v(tm) is the estimated value of required crosstalk noise.
Simple Implementing Case
In order to prove the correctness of computation provided in this invention,
2003 International Technology Roadmap of Semiconductors (ITRS) is introduced to the circuit parameter in the circuit model, among which, under the 90 nanometer semiconductor producing technology, the coefficient of line resistance is 22 mΩ-μm and the coefficient of dielectric value is 3.1. In the implementing case of this invention, it is to suppose that with the same width 10.88 μm, same thickness 0.58 μm and same height from the substrate 0.58 μm of all unitary and uniform metal lines, the resistance in unit length of metal line is 3.5 mΩ/μm and the grounding capacitance in unit length is 0.516 fF/μm after computation. Now it is to suppose that in nonuniform distributed circuit:
Line resistance is 3.50−8.53·10−3×+1.05·10−4x2 mΩ/˜m,
Grounding capacitance is 0.55+3.31·10−3x−1.32·10−5x2 fF/μm.
In addition, this implementing case adopts the inductance parameter in unit length of unitary and uniform circuit and introduces the data from the prior technology (Provided by A. Deutsch et al., “When are Transmission-Line Effects Important for On-Chip Interconnections?,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., Vol. 45, No. 10, pp. 1836-1846, in 1997). The inductance is 0.347 pH/μm. Now it is to suppose that in ununiform circuits,
The inductance is 0.27−6.60·10−4x+8.09·10−6x2 pH/μm.
In this implementing case, coupled capacitance is supposed to be 0.47+6.61·10−3x−2.63·10−5x2 fF/μm and the inductance is 0.12+6.60·10−4x−8.09·10−6x2 pH/μm to prove the correctness of estimation device of crosstalk noise in this invention. Finally, the loading capacitance is supposed to be 50 fF. Noise peak values and their occurring time in different circuits should be taken into consideration due to the difference in structures, including length, coupled position, effective driving resistance and ascending time, etc. As shown in
In this invention, it is to make comparison with the traditional one-pole (1P) model and two-pole (2P) model, as well as three-pole (3P) model, four-pole (4P) model, five-pole (5P) and six-pole (6P) model in this invention. Table I lists the absolute error and comparative error by comparing the simulation result of crosstalk peak value and commercial software HSPICE, among which, resistance, capacitance and inductance are set to be put into sections per 20 μm by HSPICE. Among 1640 testing cases, there are 40 cases with unstable poles in 1P model; there are 15 cases with unstable poles in 2P model. In order to compare the efficiency and correctness of moment computation complexity in distributed model and lumped model, Table II lists the simulation results and their comparative errors of moment computation time in S6P lumped RLC trees, among which, the testing case is to cut the length of 1 mm into different sections.
In this invention, the phenomena observed will conclude in the following items:
In short, this invention provides a method for efficiently estimating crosstalk noise of nanometer VLSI interconnects, which can quickly estimate crosstalk noise in circuit nodes by cooperating with the present VLSI design flow. In this invention, VLSI interconnects are regarded to be RLC coupled trees including nonuniform distributed circuits and lumped ones, and projection-based recursive formulas of moment computations is provided to estimate the crosstalk noise waveform of circuit inductance.