Standard Cell Like Via-Configurable Logic Block for Structured ASICs

Abstract

A structured ASIC has some arrays of pre-fabricated yet configurable logic blocks (CLBs) with/without a regular routing fabric. In this paper, we propose a standard cell like via-configurable logic block (VCLB). We design a 0.18um standard cell library based on our VCLB and establish a design flow using as many commercial tools as possible. We also propose a method to evaluate the viability of a structured ASIC fabric. Our structured ASIC fabric with programmable metals for routing achieves a delay of 2.7 times, an area of 3 times, and a power of 1.5 times that attained by the designs using a commercial cell library.