Early reliability verification without simulation.
As an IC designer focused on automotive applications, reliability is likely one of your top priorities. The components you develop need to withstand extreme environmental conditions, maintain performance over extended lifetimes, and meet rigorous industry standards. Failure is simply not an option when it comes to automotive electronics.
Achieving the required levels of reliability can be a significant challenge, especially as automotive ICs become more numerous, more complex and incorporate greater functionality (figure 1). Traditional design approaches that rely heavily on simulation and late-stage validation are no longer sufficient. To truly optimize reliability, you need to shift your mindset and processes to address potential issues much earlier in the design cycle.
Fig. 1: The amount and complexity of electronics for automotive application has grown quickly and is projected to continue growing.
This is where early design analysis tools can play a transformative role. By identifying and mitigating reliability risks upfront, you can deliver automotive ICs that are not only high-performing but also exceptionally robust and durable. In this article, we’ll explore how this “shift left” methodology can help you overcome key reliability hurdles in automotive IC design.
Automotive electronics operate in challenging environments. From extreme temperatures and vibrations to electromagnetic interference and voltage fluctuations, the list of stresses that these ICs must withstand is extensive. Failure in a critical automotive system can have consequences that range from recalls to catastrophic safety events, making reliability a non-negotiable requirement.
Compounding the challenge is the fact that automotive ICs are often built by integrating a wide array of pre-designed IP blocks, both from internal and external sources. Ensuring the interoperability and reliability of these disparate components is a constant concern. A mismatch in power states, voltage levels or other design parameters can introduce subtle issues that may go undetected until much later in the development process.
To meet the stringent reliability standards set by the automotive industry, such as AEC-Q100, you need a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional simulation and verification methods. This is where a shift-left mindset, enabled by advanced design analysis tools, can make a significant difference.
The concept of “shifting left” refers to the practice of addressing potential issues as early as possible in the design flow. Rather than waiting until the later stages of development to validate your designs, you can employ specialized analysis tools to proactively identify and resolve reliability concerns from the very beginning.
One of the key benefits of this approach is the ability to catch subtle design flaws that might otherwise slip through the cracks. For example, consider a scenario where two similar circuits exhibit vastly different reliability characteristics due to a minor change in the circuit topology. Traditional simulation and visual inspection may not always uncover these nuanced issues, but an advanced design analysis tool can quickly identify the potential reliability risks.
Similarly, when integrating multiple IP blocks into a larger automotive IC design, you may encounter challenges related to power domain isolation, leakage and other complex interactions. These types of reliability-related problems can be particularly difficult to detect through simulation alone, as the sheer number of possible configurations and power states can be overwhelming.
By leveraging a shift-left methodology and employing specialized design analysis tools, you can systematically address these reliability challenges much earlier in the design process. This not only helps you avoid costly and time-consuming redesigns down the line but also enables you to deliver automotive ICs that are inherently more reliable and resilient.
One example of a design analysis tool that can be particularly valuable for automotive IC designers is Insight Analyzer from Siemens EDA (figure 2). This solution offers a comprehensive set of reliability-focused analysis capabilities that go beyond traditional simulation and electrical rule checking (ERC) approaches.
Fig. 2: Features of an early reliability analysis tool like Insight Analyzer.
The key strength of this tool’s approach lies in its ability to perform state-based analysis, which allows it to identify potential reliability issues that may not be readily apparent through other verification methods. For instance, the tool can quickly detect cases of parasitic leakage, analog gate leakage, and digital gate leakage – all of which can have a significant impact on the overall reliability and power efficiency of your automotive ICs.
Advanced algorithms give you deeper insights into the implicit performance and reliability characteristics of your transistor-level designs, even before committing to a full-blown simulation. This empowers you to make informed decisions and implement targeted optimizations early in the design process, when the cost of change is relatively low.
Moreover, Insight Analyzer ensures that the analysis aligns with the unique reliability requirements and operating conditions of the industry. This includes support for evaluating designs against key automotive standards, such as AEC-Q100, further streamlining the path to certification and regulatory compliance.
Adopting a shift-left approach to reliability verification may require some adjustments to your existing design workflows, but the benefits can be truly transformative. By incorporating pre-layout design analysis using a tool like Insight Analyzer into your process, you can unlock a range of advantages that will help you deliver more reliable and robust automotive ICs.
Finding and fixing reliability issues much earlier in the design cycle offers significant advantages. Rather than waiting until the later stages of development to validate your designs, you can proactively mitigate risks related to power domain isolation, leakage and other critical reliability factors. This not only saves you time and resources but also helps you avoid costly redesigns and delays down the line.
Moreover, the seamless integration of design analysis tools with your existing design environment can help streamline the overall development process (figure 3). By leveraging the synergies between analysis, simulation and implementation, you can create a more efficient and cohesive workflow that enables faster design iterations and quicker time-to-market.
Fig. 3: The Insight Analyzer tool’s graphical user interface makes it easy to find and fix many reliability issues.
Perhaps most importantly, the shift-left approach empowers you to deliver automotive ICs that are inherently more reliable and resilient. By addressing potential failure mechanisms upfront, you can ensure that your designs not only meet the stringent requirements of the automotive industry but also exceed customer expectations in terms of performance, power efficiency and long-term durability.
As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the demand for highly reliable and robust electronics will only continue to grow. By embracing a shift-left methodology and leveraging advanced design analysis tools, you can position your organization at the forefront of this exciting transformation.
The key is to recognize when traditional design approaches are no longer working for you. To truly optimize the reliability of your automotive ICs, you need to shift your mindset and processes to identify and mitigate risks much earlier in the design cycle. This not only helps you avoid costly and time-consuming issues down the line but also enables you to deliver products that are truly fit for the demanding automotive environment.
So, as you embark on your next automotive IC design project, consider incorporating a shift-left approach supported by specialized design analysis tools. By doing so, you’ll not only enhance the reliability of your products but also strengthen your position as a trusted partner in the ever-evolving automotive electronics landscape.
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