Optimized design verification methodology of variation-tolerant Nanoscale systems

由于晶体管和布线的不断小型化，集成电路(IC)技术在性能上有了显著的提高。然而，随着最小特征尺寸缩小到32 nm以下，尽管工艺参数、电压条件和工作温度不可避免地会发生变化(即PVT变化)，但要确保所有制造的无缺陷芯片都能正常工作变得非常困难。加拿大初创企业Solido Design Automation Inc.开发了业界领先的设计软件，使工程师能够从数千种PVT场景中高效地选择需要在模拟中验证的最坏情况。该研究项目的最初目标是在阿尔伯塔大学的研究人员和Solido之间建立互惠互利的合作关系，以研究在存在PVT变异的情况下验证IC正确运行的改进方法。该项目的最终原始目标是开发一种全面的设计方法，支持形成新的有效工具，旨在识别最坏情况下的PVT拐角，并设计一套算法和电路基准。作为一个长期战略目标，我们将通过与世界一流的研究人员协调并引入其他加拿大公司，形成一个可持续发展的世界级研究中心，专注于PVT面向变化的验证方法的创新优化设计。研究小组的综合专门知识是多方面的，完全涵盖拟议研究项目所产生的需要。所开发的方法不仅适用于现有系统的设计，而且具有很大的牵引力，超越了现有组件的界限。在新兴的非传统纳米技术中，非确定性行为变得非常明显，并与量子效应、环境噪声以及在某些情况下廉价但不准确的分子自组装有关。因此，任何纳米级的系统设计都必须考虑到变化的弹性。从这个意义上说，拟议的方法将适用于新兴信息和通信技术系统的设计，并将使加拿大工业长期受益。

Integrated circuit (IC) technology has improved dramatically in performance due to continued miniaturization of the transistors and wiring. However, as the minimum feature size shrinks below 32 nm, it becomes very difficult to ensure that all defect-free fabricated chips will work correctly despite unavoidable variations in the process parameters, voltage conditions and operating temperature (that is, PVT variations). The Canadian start-up Solido Design Automation Inc. has developed industry-leading design software that allows engineers to efficiently select, from many thousands of PVT scenarios, the worst-case conditions that need to be verified in simulation. An initial objective of this research project is to establish a mutually beneficial collaboration between University of Alberta researchers and Solido to investigate improved methods for verifying the correct operation of ICs in the presence of PVT variations. The ultimate original objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive design methodology supporting the formation of new effective tools aimed at the identification of worst-case PVT corners and a design of a suite of algorithms as well as circuit benchmarks. As a long-term strategic goal, we will form a sustainable, world class research center focused on innovative optimized design of PVT variation-oriented verification methodology, by coordinating with world class researchers and bring in other Canadian companies. The comprehensive expertise of the research team is multifaceted and fully covers the needs arising from the proposed research project. The developed methodology is not only suitable for the design of current systems but it is far fetching and goes beyond the boundaries of the current components. In emerging nonconventional nanotechnologies, nondeterministic behaviours become profoundly visible and associated with quantum effects, environmental noise and, in some cases, inexpensive but inaccurate molecular self-assembly. Therefore, variation resilience must be incorporated into any nanoscale system design. In this sense the proposed methodologies will be applicable to the design of emerging ICT systems and will benefit the Canadian industry in a long term.