IPDA: interconnect performance design assistant

IPDA is a generic interconnect performance design assistant that integrates a finite-difference numerical simulation method, linear interpolation algorithm, interactive performance synthesis methodology, and lossless/lossy transmission-line SPICE modeling capability into a spreadsheet-style graphical user interface. The algorithm, implementation, and methodology of IPDA are described and an application example is discussed. Although the authors describe electrical performance measures for given geometry and material parameters of conductors and dielectrics, IPDA can be customized for other packaging measures such as reliability and thermal and cost effects through spreadsheet interface and calculations. IPDA assists users in selecting interconnect technologies for design-for-performance goals and also in optimizing interconnect performance designs for the full hierarchy of packaging including IC/multichip module/printed circuit board/lead-bonding/via interconnect designs. >