The limits of system improvement through liquid diagonal routing of interconnects

Abstract

An interconnect distribution for a system utilizing liquid diagonal routing is rigorously derived. Using the distribution in conjunction with a wiring layer assignment algorithm, the limits of clock frequency and area improvements are quantified as a function of wiring efficiency, the ratio of utilized wiring area to those available. A liquid-routed system with only a 28% wiring efficiency is equivalent to an orthogonally routed system with a 40% wiring efficiency. A wiring efficiency of a liquid-routed system below 28% results in an inferior design in regards to clock frequency and/or required metal resources. If a 40% wiring efficiency is maintained, however, the power-constrained clock frequency can be increased by 38% with a 69% reduction in area, or the power-density-constrained area can be reduced by 75% with a 47% reduction in power. Liquid diagonal routing promises improvements to both area and clock frequency if the wiring efficiency is maintained above roughly 30%.