INVITED: ALIGN - Open-source analog layout automation from the ground up

Kishor Kunal, Meghna Madhusudan, Arvind K. Sharma, Wenbin Xu, Steven M. Burns, Ramesh Harjani, Jiang Hu, Desmond A. Kirkpatrick, Sachin S Sapatnekar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents analog layout automation efforts under the ALIGN ("Analog Layout, Intelligently Generated from Netlists") project for fast layout generation using a modular approach based on a mix of algorithmic and machine learning-based tools. The road to rapid turnaround is based on an approach that detects structure and hierarchy in the input netlist and uses a grid based philosophy for layout. The paper provides a view of the current status of the project, challenges in developing open-source code with an academic/ industry team, and nuts-and-bolts issues such as working with abstracted PDKs, navigating the "wall" between secured IP and open-source software, and securing access to example designs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 56th Annual Design Automation Conference 2019, DAC 2019
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781450367257
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2 2019
Event56th Annual Design Automation Conference, DAC 2019 - Las Vegas, United States
Duration: Jun 2 2019Jun 6 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings - Design Automation Conference
ISSN (Print)0738-100X

Conference

Conference56th Annual Design Automation Conference, DAC 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLas Vegas
Period6/2/196/6/19

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the DARPA IDEA program under SPAWAR contract N660011824048.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). Publication rights licensed to ACM.

Keywords

  • Analog circuits
  • Hierarchy
  • Machine learning
  • Physical design

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