Hierarchial semiconductor design

Abstract

Hierarchical semiconductor structure design is disclosed. One aspect of the invention is a computerized system that includes a semiconductor structure (such as a semiconductor test structure) and a basic atom. The system also includes a hierarchy of abstractions ordered from highest to lowest. Each abstraction relates a plurality of instances of an immediately lower abstraction; the highest abstraction corresponds to the structure, and the lowest abstraction corresponds to the basic atom. A plurality of sets of parameters also is included within the system, where each set of parameters corresponds to an instance of an abstraction. Changing one of the set of parameters for an instance changes at least one of the set of parameters for an instance of an immediately lower abstraction.

1 . In a system having several higher order cells having higher order cell parameters, each of the higher order cells defined by relating a number of instances of atom cells, an atom cell comprising: 
 a plurality of atom parameters relating to instances of the atom cell; and    the atom parameters relating the instances of the atom cells to each other are constructed and arranged for changing in accordance with changing parameters of the higher order cell so that the higher order cell relates atom cells to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to become larger causes corresponding changes in the atoms making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to become smaller causes corresponding changes in the atoms cells making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to become denser causes corresponding changes in the atoms making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to use a different level of power consumption causes corresponding changes in the atoms making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a change in one or more characteristics of the higher level cells causes replacement of the atom cells with other similar atom cells making up the instance of the higher order cell.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a decrease in the power consumption of the higher level cell causes replacement of the atom cells instantiated by the higher order cell with other similar atom cells that consume less power.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a decrease in the size of the higher level cell causes replacement of the atom cells instantiated by the higher order cell with other similar atom cells that are smaller.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a increase in density of the higher level cell causes replacement of the atom cells instantiated by the higher order cell with other similar atom cells that more dense.  
   
   
       10 . In a system having cells ordered by hierarchy, each cell of a higher hierarchy order defined by instantiating a number of instances of cells of lower hierarchy order, a cell comprising: 
 a plurality of parameters relating to instances of the cells; and    the parameters relating the instances of the cells to each other are constructed and arranged for changing in accordance with changing parameters of higher order cells so that the higher order cells relates lower order cells to each other.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to change in size causes corresponding changes in the lower order cells making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to become denser causes corresponding changes in the lower order cells making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a higher order cell to use a different level of power consumption causes corresponding changes in the lower order cells making up that instance of higher order cell.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein changing higher order cell parameters to cause a change in the characteristics of the higher order cell causes replacement of the lower order cells with other cells consistent with the change in characteristics of the higher order cell.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the change in characteristic of the higher order cells is to decrease in the power consumption of the higher level cell, and causes replacement of the lower order cells instantiated by the higher order cell with other similar lower order cells that consume less power.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the change in characteristic of the higher order cells is to decrease the size of the higher level cell, and causes replacement of the lower order cells instantiated by the higher order cell with other similar lower order cells that are smaller.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the change in characteristic of the higher order cells is to decrease the density of the higher level cell, and causes replacement of the lower order cells instantiated by the higher order cell with other similar lower order cells that are more dense.  
   
   
       18 . An article comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon for execution on a computer with instructions to utilize a basic atom cell in design of a structure, the program article comprising: 
 representing a hierarchical structure design utilizing a basic atom; providing for a hierarchy of abstractions ordered from highest to lowest, wherein the lowest abstraction corresponds to the basic atom, and the highest abstraction corresponds to the structure and each abstraction relates a plurality of instances of an immediately lower abstraction and wherein each instance of an abstraction has a set of parameters such that changing one of the set of parameters for an instance changes at least one of the set of parameters for an instance of an immediately lower abstraction.    
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the hierarchy of abstractions ordered from lowest to the highest comprises: atoms, higher order cells, devices, structures, circuits and integrated circuit chips.  
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the modification of a parameter of an integrated circuit chip results in modification of circuits instantiated by that integrated circuit chip, modification of structures instantiated by those circuits, modification of devices instantiated within those structures, modification of higher order cells instantiated within those devices, and modification of atoms instantiated by those higher order cells.  
   
   
       21 . An article comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon for execution on a computer with instructions to utilize a basic atom cell in design of a structure, the program article comprising: 
 representing a hierarchical structure design utilizing a basic atom.    
   
   
       22 . The program of  claim 21 , wherein the program provides for a hierarchy of abstractions ordered from highest to lowest, wherein the lowest abstraction corresponds to the basic atom.  
   
   
       23 . The program of  claim 22 , wherein the abstraction relates a plurality of instances of an immediately lower abstraction and wherein each instance of an abstraction has a set of parameters.  
   
   
       24 . The program of  claim 23 , wherein instances of abstractions are interrelated between hierarchy orders such that changing one of the set of parameters for an instance changes at least one of the set of parameters for an instance of an immediately lower abstraction.  
   
   
       25 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the hierarchy of abstractions ordered from lowest to the highest comprises: atoms, higher order cells, devices, structures, circuits and integrated circuit chips.  
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein the modification of a parameter of an integrated circuit chip results in modification of circuits instantiated by that integrated circuit chip, modification of structures instantiated by those circuits, modification of devices instantiated within those structures, modification of higher order cells instantiated within those devices, and modification of atoms instantiated by those higher order cells.  
   
   
       27 . A system of hierarchical design of interrelated cells, comprising: 
 lowest level cells;    parameters associated with the lowest level cells;    wherein the lowest level cells and parameters associated with the lowest level cells are capable of independent use; and    cells of one or more higher level;    wherein a cell of a high level is created by: 
 definitions of parameters associated with the cell of a high level; and  
 instantiation of either the lowest level cells, or higher level cells of a lower level than the high level cell, or a combination of bother lowest level cells and higher level cells of a lower level than the high level cell.  
   
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein modification of any parameter of the cell of a high level results in modification of parameters associated with lowest level cells instantiated by the cell of a higher level and parameters associated with higher level cells instantiated by the cell of a high level.