Automation of Analog IC Layout

Scheible, Juergen; Lienig, Jens

doi:10.1145/2717764.2717781

Cited by 46 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The latter was even considered a "paradigm shift" by the Berkeley Analog Generator (BAG) working group [4]. We believe that a combined approach of both synthesis methods and procedural automation will pave the way towards full analog automation-in accordance with [5]. As a step towards this goal, we address automatic code generation of procedural generators that automate layouts (plus schematic and symbol views) in a user-driven way, based on existing designs.…”

Section: Context Of the Presented Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generating the Generator: A User-Driven and Template-Based Approach towards Analog Layout Automation

2023

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Various analog design automation attempts have addressed the shortcomings of the still largely manual and, thus, inefficient and risky analog design approach. These methods can roughly be divided into synthesis and procedural generation. An important key aspect has, however, rarely been considered: usability. While synthesis requires sophisticated constraints, procedural generators require expert programmers. Both prevent users from adopting the respective method. Thus, we propose a new approach to automatically create procedural generators in a user-driven way. First, analog generators, which also create symbols and layouts, are utilized during schematic entry to encapsulate common analog building blocks. Second, automatic code creation builds a hierarchical generator for all views with the schematic as input. Third, the approach links the building block generators with the layout through an object-oriented template library that is accessible through generator parameters, allowing the user to control the arrangement. No programming is required to reach this state. We believe that our approach will significantly ease the transition of analog designers to procedural generation. At the same time, the templates allow for a “bridge” to open frameworks and synthesis approaches so that the methodologies can be both better spread and combined. This way, comprehensive frameworks of both synthesis-based and procedural-based analog automation methods can be built in a user-driven way, and designers are enabled to gain early layout insight and ease IP reusability.

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Section: Context Of the Presented Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generating the Generator: A User-Driven and Template-Based Approach towards Analog Layout Automation

2023

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“…Despite these efforts, the need to completely formalize a design problem remains a huge obstacle for algorithmic approaches, because analog expert knowledge cannot be easily translated into computationally digestible expressions of high-level, abstract design requirements [1].…”

Section: A Optimization Algorithmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While this flexibility makes them suitable for a wide range of use-cases, each application requires that all respective design constraints are formally described. Such automation approaches, Manuscript received July 3, 2015; revised January 26, 2016. which demand a complete mathematical formalization of the entire design problem, are also referred to as topdown automation [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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SWARM: A Self-Organization Approach for Layout Automation in Analog IC Design

Marolt¹,

Scheible²,

Jerke³

et al. 2016

IJEEE

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Abstract-Optimization-based analog layout automationdoes not yet find evident acceptance in the industry due to the complexity of the design problem. This paper presents a Self-organized Wiring and Arrangement of Responsive Modules (SWARM), able to consider crucial design constraints both implicitly and explicitly. The flexibility of algorithmic methods and the expert knowledge captured in PCells combine into a flow of supervised module interaction. This novel approach targets the creation of constraintcompliant layout blocks which fit into a specified zone. Provoking a synergetic self-organization, even optimal layout solutions can emerge from the interaction. Various examples depict the power of that new concept and the potential for future developments.  Index Terms-analog IC design, layout automation, constraint engineering, methodology, algorithm, particle system

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“…SWARM is innovatively different from existing approaches as it can consider crucial design constraints both explicitly and implicitly. This allows SWARM to reach the quality of procedural generators and the flexibility of optimization algorithms, effectively combining the two automation paradigms towards a new bottom-up meets top-down flow as envisioned in [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analog layout automation via self-organization: Enhancing the novel SWARM approach

Marolt

Scheible

Jerke

et al. 2016

2016 IEEE 7th Latin American Symposium on Circuits &Amp; Systems (LASCAS)

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This paper enhances SWARM, a novel deterministic analog layout automation approach based on the idea of cellular automata. SWARM implements a decentralized interaction model in which responsive layout modules, covering basic circuit types, autonomously move, rotate and deform themselves to let constraint-compliant, compact layout solutions emerge from a synergetic flow of self-organization. With the ability to consider design constraints both implicitly and explicitly, SWARM joins the layout quality of procedural generators with the flexibility of optimization algorithms, combining these two kinds of automation into a "bottom-up meets top-down" flow. The new enhancements are demonstrated in an OTA example, depicting the power of SWARM and its enormous potential for future developments.

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Automation of Analog IC Layout

Cited by 46 publications

References 22 publications

Generating the Generator: A User-Driven and Template-Based Approach towards Analog Layout Automation

Generating the Generator: A User-Driven and Template-Based Approach towards Analog Layout Automation

SWARM: A Self-Organization Approach for Layout Automation in Analog IC Design

Analog layout automation via self-organization: Enhancing the novel SWARM approach

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