3D Nanowire-Based Programmable Logic |
||
In nanowire-based logic, the semiconducting material (e.g., Si, GaN, SiGe) is grown into individual nanowires rather than being part of the substrate. This offers us the opportunity to stack multiple layers of nanowires to create a three-dimensional logic structure which has high quality semiconductors in all vertical layers. We detail a feasible three-dimensional programmable logic architecture which can plausibly be realized from layers of semiconducting nanowires, making only modest assumptions about the control and placement of individual nanowires in the assembly. This shows a natural path for continuing to scale areal logic density once nanowire pitches approach fundamental limits. We show that the three dimensional systems are volumetrically efficient, with the surface area reducing roughly in proportion to the number of vertical layers. We further show that, on average, delay is reduced 18% from compact layout in three dimensions. For only a 20% area impact, we show how to avoid adding any manufacturing steps to physically isolate portions of nanowire layers.
© 2006 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.