DORIC: Design of Optimized and Robust Integrated Circuits

Z. Daoud

EECS Department
University of California, Berkeley
Technical Report No. UCB/ERL M93/90
December 1993

http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1993/ERL-93-90.pdf

The Robust Design Method is a technique aimed at designing high quality products at low cost. It is based on optimizing performance, manufacturability and cost by varying certain decision variables, in order to make the product less sensitive to manufacturing imperfections. Previously, these variations were either ignored or studied in an ad hoc fashion, which often led to long and expensive design cycles. Using a mathematical tool called orthogonal arrays, the Robust Design Method explores many variables in a small number of trials. This project investigates the application of the Robust Design Method to IC design using the HSPICE circuit simulator, and presents a design methodology to improve the manufacturability of integrated circuits. The developed computer-aided design tool, DORIC (Design of Optimized Robust Integrated Circuits) allows the user to study the effect of certain design parameters (such as transistor sizes) and manufacturing variations (e.g. variations of the thickness of the oxide) on specific circuit performance measures. Upon analyzing the results, the user can choose an optimal setting of the decision variables.

BibTeX citation:

@techreport{Daoud:M93/90,
    Author = {Daoud, Z.},
    Title = {DORIC: Design of Optimized and Robust Integrated Circuits},
    Institution = {EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley},
    Year = {1993},
    Month = {Dec},
    URL = {http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1993/2468.html},
    Number = {UCB/ERL M93/90},
    Abstract = {The Robust Design Method is a technique aimed at designing high quality products at low cost.  It is based on optimizing performance, manufacturability and cost by varying certain decision variables, in order to make the product less sensitive to manufacturing imperfections.  Previously, these variations were either ignored or studied in an ad hoc fashion, which often led to long and expensive design cycles.  Using a mathematical tool called orthogonal arrays, the Robust Design Method explores many variables in a small number of trials. This project investigates the application of the Robust Design Method to IC design using the HSPICE circuit simulator, and presents a design methodology to improve the manufacturability of integrated circuits.  The developed computer-aided design tool, DORIC (Design of Optimized Robust Integrated Circuits) allows the user to study the effect of certain design parameters (such as transistor sizes) and manufacturing variations (e.g. variations of the thickness of the oxide) on specific circuit performance measures.  Upon analyzing the results, the user can choose an optimal setting of the decision variables.}
}

EndNote citation:

%0 Report
%A Daoud, Z.
%T DORIC: Design of Optimized and Robust Integrated Circuits
%I EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley
%D 1993
%@ UCB/ERL M93/90
%U http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1993/2468.html
%F Daoud:M93/90