Patent ID: 7698678
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G06F,H01G

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a graphical user interface for inputting one or more design parameters for a vertical parallel plate (VPP) capacitor; a processor coupled with the graphical user interface; and program code configured to be executed by the processor to define a parameterized cell representing a vertical parallel plate capacitor by automatically determining a number of metallization layers each containing a plurality of plates of the VPP capacitor and a material for the plates in each of the metallization layers to collectively satisfy the one or more design parameters and, after the number of metallization layers and the material for the plates in each of the metallization layers are determined, to automatically optimize a physical spacing between adjacent pairs of the plates in each of the metallization layers to achieve a targeted electrostatic discharge protection level, wherein the program code is configured to automatically optimize the physical spacing between adjacent pairs of the plates in each of the metallization layers based at least partially upon the material for the plates in each of the metallization layers, the material in at least one of the metallization layers, and the physical spacing between adjacent pairs of the plates in an upper one of the metallization layers is larger than the physical spacing between adjacent pairs of the plates in a lower one of the metallization layers that is located between the upper one of the metallization layers and a substrate carrying the VPP capacitor differs from the physical spacing between adjacent pairs of the plates and the material in another of the metallization layers.