Reliability the Fourth Optimization Pillar of Nanoelectronics

This paper summarizes a strategy for the development of an EDA (electronic design automation) tool which will support the design of future nano-circuits. The problem with the existing EDA tools is that they do not explicitly consider reliability as a design criterion. Those tools that do consider reliability are not intended for the nanoelectronic industry and are very limited in the types of failure models they can assess. Moreover, current indications show that moving towards nano-scale will significantly increase the failure rates. It follows that an improved EDA tool which would efficiently assess reliability (besides speed, power, area, etc.) is becoming a necessity. In this paper we detail a strategy and its methods that could ultimately lead to an EDA tool for realistic reliability evaluation of nano-circuits.