Computer-aided design and analysis of circuits and semiconductor – Nanotechnology related integrated circuit design
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-12
2003-11-25
Siek, Vuthe (Department: 2825)
Computer-aided design and analysis of circuits and semiconductor
Nanotechnology related integrated circuit design
Reexamination Certificate
active
06654945
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a storage medium in which data regarding designing to be supplied to a computer (electronic computer) executing a predetermined program to design a circuit to be formed on a semiconductor chip is stored and a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit. For example, the invention relates to a technique effective for use in designing and fabricating of a microcomputer or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
At the time of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like, a collection of computing functions, signal control functions, and the like to be provided in the circuit is called a block (or module or core). The blocks include a hard macro block (or hard module or hard core) for providing, as a part, data indicative of a plurality of mask patterns for forming a layout to a chip designer after completion of designing the layout of the portion. Recently, such a hard macro block is also called a hardware IP (Intellectual Property) module. In the case of providing such a hard macro to a chip designer, as data expressing the hard macro block, together with data describing the function of the block (circuit) in a computer language such as HDL (Hardware Description Language), data of a mask pattern expressing the layout of the circuit (for example, drawing data for forming a mask pattern), and the like is provided. In contrast to such a hard macro block, there is a block called a soft macro block (or software module or software core). In the soft macro block, the function of the block (circuit) is specified by description in the HDL or the like and the description is provided as a part to a chip designer. Such a soft macro block is also called a software IP module in contrast to the hardware IP module. There is a case such that the circuit scale of the macro block such as the hardware IP module or software IP module is as large as a unit of function of an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), CPU (Central Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or the like.
The hard macro block such as the hardware IP module includes, as data to be provided to the designer, information regarding a mask pattern for forming a verified layout pattern. Consequently, even the circuit characteristics of the block (circuit) provided as the hardware IP module are guaranteed. At the time of designing a microcomputer, a system LSI, or the like, by using data of a hard macro block such as the hardware IP module as a past design asset, a designing and verification period can be largely shortened. The function describing data in the HDL or the like included in the hardware IP module is used to verify, for example, a logic operation of a configuration in which the hardware IP module and the outside are integrated when the hardware IP module and the outside are connected to each other.
The hardware IP or the like is described in “Verification on System LSI using IP core” in Nikkei Electronics No. 723, Aug. 10, 1998, pp. 99 to 109.
The inventors of the present invention have examined a use of data of the hardware IP module, software IP module, and the like for designing of a semiconductor integrated circuit. For example, by adding a peripheral function corresponding to a required specification of the user to the CPU as a core of a microcomputer, the microcomputer can be developed as a product. At this time, by re-using a designed hardware IP module as a peripheral circuit module to shorten the design period, the design period until the layout can be shortened as described above.
In the case of using the hardware IP module, since designing up to a mask pattern for forming a layout pattern of a circuit has been completed, the function and performance of the circuit is stable and the small number of designing steps is sufficient. In the hard macro block such as a hardware IP module, however, a circuit of a relatively high driving capability is used to guarantee its operation irrespective of an actual external load. It therefore counts against a request such as reduction in power consumption or reduction in chip occupied area. However, in the case of adopting a circuit of a driving capability according to an external load for an interface section, a problem such that it becomes difficult to re-use data of the mask pattern included in the hardware IP module arises. It is not easy to change the shape of a layout pattern of a part of the-hardware IP module in which the mask pattern has been completed and to guarantee the operation.
On the other hand, by using a software IP module, designing according to an external load can be performed for the interface section. However, since the performances such as timing depend on a layout, high reliability in functions is not always obtained only by the software IP module. Since layout is designed so that timings and the like are satisfied in a whole block, a problem such that a number of designing steps is necessary to complete the designing of the mask pattern which specifies the layout.
An object of the invention is to provide a storage medium in which designing information that can be contributed to increase in efficiency of a process of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit by using a computer is stored.
Another object of the invention is to provide a storage medium in which designing data is stored, which can guarantee function and performance of a circuit more than the case where all modules are software modules, has the degree of freedom in designing higher than the case where all modules are hardware modules, and can contribute to reduction in the number of designing steps.
Further another object of the invention is to provide a storage medium in which designing data enabling power consumption and/or a chip occupying area of a module which can be re-used in a semiconductor integrated circuit to be reduced is stored.
Further another object of the invention is to provide a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit capable of reducing power consumption and/or chip occupying area.
The above and other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the specification and the attached drawings.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A storage medium according to the invention is a storage medium in which data for designing an integrated circuit to be formed on a semiconductor chip by using a computer is stored so as to be read by the computer. The data stored in the storage medium includes: first data for determining a figure pattern for forming a first circuit out of a plurality of circuits constructing the integrated circuit onto the semiconductor chip; second data for determining a function of a second circuit out of the plurality of circuits constructing the integrated circuit; and third data for determining a relation of connecting the first circuit and the second circuit.
The first data is, for example, data for forming a mask pattern of an integrated circuit. In a manner similar to the data of the hard module, the data has a stable nature from the point such that the functions and performances of a circuit specified by the data are. already verified. By using the first data for designing an integrated circuit, high reliability on the functions and performances can be guaranteed to the first circuit in the integrated circuit with a small number of designing steps.
The second data is, for example, one or plural data selected from a register level, a transistor level, and a net list which determine the function of the second circuit. In a manner similar to the data of the software module, stability of the functions and performances of a circuit specified by the second data is not guaranteed as much as the case of the hardware module. On the other hand, the degree of freedom in designing regarding the driving capability and the like of a circuit is guaranteed. By using the second data for designing the integrated circuit, the degree of freedom in designing regarding the driving capability and the like of the cir
Kojima Satoshi
Nakayama Katsutoshi
Oda Syouhei
Do Thuan
Siek Vuthe
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