The Past, Present, And Future Of Design-Technology Co-Optimization

Design-Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO) has evolved from early Design-for-Manufacture (DFM) needs into a multi-faceted, multi-lateral co-optimization below 20nm, where multiple patterning and FinFETs add significant complexities. Effective DTCO now involves end product metrics applied to a myriad of design-technology choices. This paper will highlight past and present examples of DTCO in practice for low-power SoC design, and examine a future of even more complexity that will drive a continued evolution in DTCO.