EARLY DECOUPLING CAPACITOR OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR HIERARCHICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN

摘要

Methods, systems, computer programs, etc., determine the required number of decoupling capacitors, and approximate locations for the decoupling capacitors, for a region of an integrated circuit. Switching elements of the region are entered into a simulation program running on a computerized device. Also, a power distribution model of the region is entered into the simulation program, and a power-supply voltage compression target is entered into the simulation program. These methods, systems, etc., generate an upper number of decoupling capacitors required to satisfy the compression target when all the switching elements concurrently switch. For each switching element, the methods, systems, etc., generate a specific number of decoupling capacitors required to satisfy the compression when only the element switches, calculate a fraction of the specific number to the upper number, assign the fraction of the total number of decoupling capacitors to each switching circuit element, and place the fraction of the total number of decoupling capacitors in electrical proximity to the element.