Methods, apparatus and computer program products for synthesizing integrated circuits with electrostatic discharge capability and connecting ground rules faults therein
First Claim
1. A method of synthesizing a computer readable representation of an integrated circuit with electrostatic discharge protection capability, comprising the steps of:
- generating a computer readable representation of an integrated circuit containing a representation of a first functional circuit element connected to a representation of a first input/output pad, via a representation of a first electrical path, and a representation of a first electrostatic discharge protection circuit element connected to the representation of the first input/output pad, via a representation of a second electrical path;
determining a quantity relating to a first sheet resistance of the representation of the first electrical path and determining a quantity relating to a second sheet resistance of the representation of the second electrical path; and
adjusting a length and/or width of the representation of at least one of the first and second electrical paths to improve the electrostatic discharge capability of the integrated circuit, if the first sheet resistance is greater than the second sheet resistance; and
wherein the first electrostatic discharge protection circuit element is characterized by a trigger voltage (VtrigPD), an on-resistance (Ron) and a maximum ESD current IESD ;
wherein the first functional circuit element is characterized by a trigger voltage (VtrigF); and
wherein VtrigPD +Ron IESD <
VtrigF.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus and computer program product for synthesizing and correcting ESD and EOS ground rules faults in integrated circuits generates a representation of a first functional circuit element (e.g., logic gate) connected to a representation of a first input/output (I/O) pad, via a representation of a first electrical path, and generates a representation of a first ESD circuit element connected to the representation of the first input/output pad via a representation of a second electrical path which may overlap a portion of the first electrical path. First and second sheet resistances (or quantities related thereto) of the first and second electrical paths, respectively, are determined and a length and/or width of the representation of at least one of the first and second electrical paths is adjusted if the first sheet resistance is greater than the second sheet resistance, so that the first sheet resistance is less than the second sheet resistance. Corners in representations of adjacent power rails are also detected, where these representations have opposing edges separated by a minimum rail spacing, and a position of at least one of the power rails relative to the other is adjusted so that the opposing edges are separated by a spacing which is no less than about two times the minimum rail spacing.
54 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method of synthesizing a computer readable representation of an integrated circuit with electrostatic discharge protection capability, comprising the steps of:
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generating a computer readable representation of an integrated circuit containing a representation of a first functional circuit element connected to a representation of a first input/output pad, via a representation of a first electrical path, and a representation of a first electrostatic discharge protection circuit element connected to the representation of the first input/output pad, via a representation of a second electrical path; determining a quantity relating to a first sheet resistance of the representation of the first electrical path and determining a quantity relating to a second sheet resistance of the representation of the second electrical path; and adjusting a length and/or width of the representation of at least one of the first and second electrical paths to improve the electrostatic discharge capability of the integrated circuit, if the first sheet resistance is greater than the second sheet resistance; and wherein the first electrostatic discharge protection circuit element is characterized by a trigger voltage (VtrigPD), an on-resistance (Ron) and a maximum ESD current IESD ;
wherein the first functional circuit element is characterized by a trigger voltage (VtrigF); and
wherein VtrigPD +Ron IESD <
VtrigF. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for synthesizing a computer readable representation of an integrated circuit with electrostatic discharge protection capability, comprising:
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means for generating a computer readable representation of an integrated circuit containing a representation of a first functional circuit element connected to a representation of a first input/output pad, via a representation of a first electrical path, and a representation of a first electrostatic discharge protection circuit element connected to the representation of the first input/output pad, via a representation of a second electrical path, said first electrostatic discharge protection circuit element characterized by a trigger voltage (VtrigPD), an on-resistance (Ron) and a maximum ESD current IESD and said first functional circuit element characterized by a trigger voltage (VtrigF); and
wherein VtrigPD +Ron IESD <
VtrigF ;means, responsive to said generating means, for determining a quantity relating to a first sheet resistance of the representation of the first electrical path and determining a quantity relating to a second sheet resistance of the representation of the second electrical path; and means, responsive to said quantity determining means, for adjusting a length and/or width of the representation of at least one of the first and second electrical paths to improve the electrostatic discharge capability of the integrated circuit, if the first sheet resistance is greater than the second sheet resistance.
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Specification