ASIC Physical Design : Key challenges and Innovative solutions

MMMC (Multi-Mode Multi-Corner ) is needed in modern chip design to make sure that chip works properly in all conditions. It handles changes in manufacturing, power, temperature, and how the chip operates in different modes. Before understanding details about MMMC, Lets try to understand its importance through below analogy. Suppose you are making a chip which will be used in mobile. in order to have more sells all over India, it is really important that same mobile handset should work in all states including Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) , Gujarat and Kerala (Of course it will be restricted in Military area...!!). J&K is very cold area where temperature might be as low as -40 Degree while Rajasthan's Thar Desert where temperate might go as high as 40 Degree.  other states where  average temperate is in range of 20-30 Degree. In order to have sells across India, it is really important that Mobile Handset should work properly with expected performance in all states.  Thus...

 Hi All, I hope so far you have gone through all steps of ASIC Design flow before placement stages and ready to deep dive into placement. In this post, I will give basic introduction about placement optimization. Before starting Placement stage, Below are the assumptions:  Floorplan size is reasonable with adequate initial utilization numbers all IO ports are placed as expected  and marked as Fixed all Placement blockages from FullChip (based on top-down approach) perspective is already there in floorplan  Macros are placed and marked as Fixed Design is Single power domain Power-Grid pre routed Introduction to Placement stage In ASIC Physical design flow, goal of Placement is to place the standard cells(stdcell) in Core area which is further divided into stdcell rows. each standard cell must be placed on legal site rows such that it meets Timing and efficient routing. Thus "Placement" stage is key factor in ASIC Design Flow for achieving better PPA by optimizing area...