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Robust Mixed-signal Design in Smart-power IC Processes

Robust Mixed-signal Design in Smart-power IC Processes. R. Gillon AMI Semiconductors Belgium ISIE’05 SS8 : Power ICs. Smart-power IC’s ?. On-board intelligence : State-machine / logic Micro-processor Memory : ROM, RAM, EEPROM, OTP Communication interfaces :

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Robust Mixed-signal Design in Smart-power IC Processes

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  1. Robust Mixed-signal Designin Smart-power IC Processes R. GillonAMI Semiconductors BelgiumISIE’05 SS8 : Power ICs

  2. Smart-power IC’s ? • On-board intelligence : • State-machine / logic • Micro-processor • Memory : ROM, RAM, EEPROM, OTP • Communication interfaces : • Transmitters, receivers, protocol engines, … • Power handling : • Drivers : transistors, diodes • Sensing & Control : • Analogue and conversion circuitry • Protections : • ESD, EMC, over-temperatures, … • On-board intelligence • Power handling

  3. Smart-power IC ! • Process : • Components • Isolation schemes • Interconnects • PDK : • Models • Symbols • Pcells • Verification • IP blocks • Memories • Digital libraries • Analogue blocks

  4. Robust Mixed-signal Design • Process : • Components • Isolation schemes • Interconnects • PDK : • Models • Symbols • Pcells • Verification How to engineer the design-system to enable / favour robust design practices ?

  5. Robust Mixed-signal Design • B. Gilbert in “Trade-offs in analog Circuit Design” : …the art ofanticipating, identifying and systematically nullingsensitivities of critical performance specifications tovariances in the manufacturing process and the circuit'senvironment • Sources of variability (chip-centric universe) : • Intrinsic Variations : inherent to the chip fabrication, the selected architecture • Extrinsic Perturbations : interaction of the chip with a variable environment

  6. Intrinsic variations • Process variations • Die-to-die • Intra-die (process-induced gradients) • Component mismatch • Noise • Intrinsic noise (semiconductor physics) • Activity noise (induced ‘random’ signals) • Component aging • Electrical (over-)stress • Temperature gradients • Qualification level (process, components)

  7. External Perturbations • Better solved by other means …(than IC design) • Eg : moisture • Not quantifiable, but can be minimizedby appropriate measures during IC design • Eg : Mechanical stress degrading transistor matching • Can be quantified and designed for • Temperature effects • EMC : • ESD events • Standardised accidental pulses (eg automtive : Shaffner) • Latch-up

  8. Process Design Kit ? Netlist Schematics Layout Verification Isolation CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF CDF Connect. Features PCells Symbols Models Comp. IP Compon Conn. Other IP CDF Process Par. Interconnects Components Analysis Components Library Library IP Blocks IP Blocks Library DRC LVS Analysis scripts

  9. Overview of Robustness Tools Internal Variations Ext. Perturbations

  10. Managing Electrical Stress Risks SYSTEM OF POCKET VOLTAGES : HV pocket H M C HV devices MV devices LV device MV pocket LV pocket 80V 80V FAILURES 20V 20V H1 H3 H M4 C4 M1 M3 80V 80V C2 80V 80V 80V 80V 80V 80V 3.3V 3.3V H 20V 20V 20V 20V 20V C1 20V 20V C3 H2 M2 80V 80V 20V 20V Psub diode? M SUB1 SUB1 SUB2 • Introducing different voltage ratings • For famillies of nets (through labelling) • For diffused pockets (tubs) • Formal management of connectivity of components, tubs, etc. according to ratings • DRC rules on nets and pins • Electrical rule check at schematics level • Safe-operating area flagging during simulation

  11. Managing Component Aging Risks • Static approach or guard-banding • The life-times under constant stress are extracted • Models issue safe-operating area messages according to selected target life-times • Covers most basic needs

  12. Managing Component Aging Risks • Static approach or guard-banding • The life-times under constant stress are extracted • Models issue safe-operating area messages according to selected target life-times • Covers most basic needs • Computation of dynamic aging • Determination of aging rate • Computation of parameter shifts according to age

  13. Managing Process Variations • Die-to-die variations • Study distributions of key electrical parameters • Determine dominant modes of variations (correlations)

  14. Managing Process Variations • Die-to-die variations • Study distributions of key electrical parameters • Determine dominant modes of variations (correlations) • Identify correlation groups • Build sets of corners for each correlation group • Alternatively provide process Monte-Carlo models • Modelling paradox • Statistical data is available in electrical parameters • ETest parameters are not model parameters • Either repeat extraction many times or build special mapping techniques

  15. Managing External Perturbations • Electro-Magnetic Compatibility • Standards for Emission and Susceptibility simulations • Typically from low frequency till 1GHz • Dielectric transition frequencies of silicon substrate • Redistribution of current filaments in metals not properly modelled in most EM simulation tools (avoid to solve electric and magnetic fields in the conductors). • Need to assess realism of EMC simulations comparing impedance levels at tip of package lead

  16. Managing External Perturbations • Testing ESD protection strategy • Smart-power IC’s can have very complex interface • Many different supply levels • IO pins with different voltage ratings • Very large number of pins • Wide variety of ESD protection cells • Tool for testing topology of ESD protection scheme • Drop-in replacement of all component models by simplified breakdown models • Forcing of static current in IO pins • Detection of current paths through simulation • Flagging of breakdowns outside of ESD protection cells • Extension to detect risks of dynamic failures • Completed by specific DRC check and generic LVS

  17. Managing Learning Processes • Road-map for Smart-power technologies • Progressive introduction of new features to meet the needs and timings of different markets • Consumer • Automotive, Aero, Military • Medical • Several nested feedback loops • Tools to support / channel feedback • Helpdesk systems • Tracking of qualification status at component level • Quality systems : Waivering systems for rule violations, …

  18. Conclusions • Stimulate robustness by construction • Tackle risks as early as possible in the design process • Favor analytical approaches w.r.t. predefined push-button solution • Efficiency and flexibility of solutions is critical • Enabling robustness requires holistic approach to PDK engineering • ROBUSPIC projects is addressing key topics in enabling methodologies for robust design

  19. Acknowledgements • 6th framework program (IST) for funding of the ROBUSPIC program • Partners in ROBUSPIC :

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