Accurate Parasitic Extraction (PEX) for Large Cells

Advanced technologies are pushing the limits of both design and technology capabilities, resulting in complex device architectures to achieve ever better power, performance and area (PPA) trade-offs. Precise modeling, where parasitic effects in mid-of-line (MOL) are meticulously addressed, is key for these advanced technologies. For accurate parasitic extraction (PEX), a PEX RC netlist is created for each standard cell / design using a full-field solver. When dealing with large cells, running a full parasitic extraction for the entire cell may be too time-consuming. A possible solution is a divide-and-conquer strategy where we  divide the standard cell into smaller parts, calculate the PEX netlist for each piece using a full-field solver, and reassemble the individual netlist at the end.  However, currently, such a strategy requires significant manual effort. In this internship you will help in devising an automated workflow for the divide-and-conquer PEX approach.

In this internship, you will:

• Get familiar with advanced technologies, understanding key design and technology aspects, and comprehend different device architectures.
• Design layouts for the considered technologies, and transform them into 3D structures for PEX, using inhouse software.
• Develop a way of working (WoW) for dividing standard cells and automatically reassembling the partial netlists after PEX extraction.
• Run PPA benchmarks with the PEX netlists and analyze the results.

During this internship you will be part of a multidisciplinary team, interacting with specialists in device physics, process integration and digital design.

By joining imec for this internship, you will become part of a world-leading research institute in nanoelectronics. At imec, we foster a collaborative culture that thrives on innovation and continuous learning. You will work within a diverse and global team of experts, where your contributions will have real-world impact. Imec supports your professional and personal development, preparing you for a future at the cutting edge of technology.

Background: Applicants should have a background in electrical engineering, nanotechnology, or related fields, with a strong cross-disciplinary interest.