Hello Dear Readers, Today in this post, I will provide some deep insight into the Signal Electromigration (Signal EM): Violations, Examples, and Practical Fixes. 1. Introduction: As technology nodes shrink into the deep‑submicron and nanometer regime (7nm, 5nm, 3nm and beyond), electromigration (EM) has become a first‑order reliability concern—not only for power/ground (PG) networks but also for signal nets. Signal EM failures are often underestimated because signal currents are transient and bidirectional. However, with higher switching activity, tighter metal pitches, thinner wires, and aggressive timing closure, signal EM can cause latent or early‑life failures if not addressed properly. This article explains: What Signal EM is and how it differs from PG EM Typical Signal EM violation scenarios Detailed, practical examples Root causes behind each violation Proven solutions and best practices to fix and prevent Signal EM issues 2. What is Signal Electromigration: El...
Hello Dear Readers, Today in this post I will provide some deep insight into Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Tools. So let's start. Computer-aided design (CAD) tools have advanced significantly during the past decade, and nowadays digital design is performed using a variety of software tools. Prototypes or even final plans can be created without discrete components and interconnection wires. Fig. 1 illustrates the steps in modern digital system design. Like any engineering design, the first step in the design flow is formulating the problem, stating the design requirements , and arriving at the design specification . The next step is to develop the design at a conceptual level, either at a block diagram level or at an algorithmic level. Fig. 1: Design Flow in Modern Digital System Design Design entry is the next step in the design flow. Previously, this would have been a hand-drawn schematic or blueprint. Now with CAD tools, the design conceptualized in th...