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Design Fabrics

Every Fabbrix solution begins by defining a technology-specific, regular-design fabric. A design fabric is a 3-dimensional sea-of-shapes that defines possible circuit patterns for each mask layer. The resulting lithography-friendly shapes create a disciplined view of the target process enabling optimal and predictable circuits to be reliably constructed.

The design fabric definition minimizes variations in electrical parametrics including transistor leakage characteristics and overall device performance using data derived from Fabbrix' own test structures.

Using the Fabbrix methodology, a design can be quickly ported to a new process. And a design fabric can be easily updated as a process technology matures.

Text Box: Quantifying Regularity The upper plot shows a 2-D Fourier transform of geometry patterns from a traditional standard cell block. The plot shows a noisy response, with no regularity. The lower plot shows the response for a Fabbrix based block and an adjacent high-density memory block. The logic pattern’s response is regular and is matched to the response of the adjacent memory block, allowing an optimal lithography setup for both.  2-d Fourier transform of the geometries in a typical standard cell.

Logic Bricks

Logic bricks are the building blocks of Fabbrix based chips. Logic bricks are created from the lithography-friendly shapes contained in the design fabric definition.

A Fabbrix logic brick showing high regularity.
A Logic Brick Showing High Regularity

Compared to traditional standard cells, logic bricks exhibit higher regularity and have a higher logical density (more logic functions per cell), simplifying place and route and reducing the associated power, area and parasitics.

A complete brick library contains fewer than 30 unique logic bricks. Because of the small library size, intensive analysis and optimization techniques become practical.

Bricks can be designed to meet any combination of design goals. This enables the creation of general purpose brick libraries suitable for a variety of applications, as well as libraries for specific applications, such as low power microprocessors.

Fabbrix' unique Brick Discovery software automatically analyzes groups of designs and generates the complete definition for an optimal brick library.

Design Flow Integration

Fabbrix design solutions integrate smoothly with industry standard tools and flows. Fabbrix works in partnership with corporate CAD and infrastructure groups to create unique solutions that are individually matched to each company’s design and test disciplines. This integration philosophy allows companies to continue building on existing investments in tools, training, etc. Fabbrix’ methodology makes it easy to add structured design capability to your business.

Design Flow diagram.
Fabbrix Technology Integrates with Existing Tools and Design Flows