A Globally-optimized Co-design Approach for Heterogeneous Systems Using Convex Optimization

Manufacturing methods for heterogeneous systems allow for high-density integration of multiple semiconductor devices in one system or package. Current design tools and approaches do not incorporate the intensified heterogeneity of 3D systems sufficiently. They provide suboptimal design solutions because the overall global solutions cannot be optimized. In this paper, we present a co-design methodology to globally solve and optimize the design problem and so to fully exploit the potential of emerging technologies. We use a design example to show the advantage and potential of a co-design methodology compared to conventional top-down approaches. Our approach should guide further research and tool development in this emerging field of heterogeneous system design.