Cost effective 28nm LP SoC technology optimized with circuit/device/process co-design for smart mobile devices

Abstract

With newer technology nodes, circuit/device/process codesign is essential to realize the advantages of scaling. Leveraging co-design approach based on a well-established manufacturing flow, a cost effective 28 nm 4G SOC technology has been crafted. This 28 nm design strategy uses two sets of design rules and 7 different Vt cells with optimal power gating to achieve a 2.4× increase in gate density, 55% decrease in power and 30% gain in frequency with respect to the 45 nm counterpart. Relevant technical tradeoffs between the design/technology interactions are discussed to illustrate the codesign aspects.