Robert Suaya
Chief Scientist
PEV Division
Mentor Graphics Corp.
Grenoble, France

“Optimal Design of Interconnect Structures”

Abstract

High performance digital systems are running in the microwave domain, with clock frequencies in the GHz range. Traditional representation of wires in terms of the diffusion equation and localized linear capacitors and resistors ceases to be valid. A treatment based on Maxwell's equations is imperative. In fact, certain critical signals such as clocks and high-speed data busses have lengths and transition times comparable to the transit times of light propagation in the medium over those distances. General methods for describing signal propagation in this frequency domain are discussed. The design methodology that separates logic design from layout breaks down. Optimization methods applied to the layout problem based on rigorous solutions to the Maxwell's equations in the media permit to regain a different but equally appealing simplified approach to the design of high speed data lines- the critical components on leading edge microprocessors.