Interconnect EM reliability modeling at circuit layout level

The circuit models built in Chaps. 2 and 3 only consider the intra-block interconnects and simple inter-block connections up to Metal 2. Realistic circuits consist of a large number of transistors and other circuit components connected by complex inter-block connections made of multiple metal layers. In this chapter, a complete 3D circuit model including both intra- and inter-block interconnects is constructed. Electro-thermo-structural simulations are performed, and the modifications that can help enhancing the EM reliability of the circuit are carried out based on the observations in the simulation.