Title | Statistical Techniques to Combat Variability and Achieve Robust Design |
Author | *Chandu Visweswariah (IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, United States) |
Page | p. 447 |
Abstract | Variability due to manufacturing, environmental and aging uncertainties constitutes one of the major challenges in continuing CMOS scaling. Worst-case design is simply not feasible any more. This presentation will describe how statistical timing techniques can be used to reduce pessimism, achieve full-chip and full-process coverage, and enable robust design practices. A practical ASIC timing methodology based on statistical timing will be described. Model-to-hardware correlation, at-speed test and robust optimization techniques will be presented. Key research initiatives that were required to achieve such a design flow will be described. |