ArtNet: Hierarchical Clustering-Based Artificial Netlist Generator for ML and DTCO Application

Abstract--In advanced nodes, optimization of power, performance and area (PPA) has become highly complex and challenging. Machine learning (ML) and design-technology co-optimization (DTCO) provide promising mitigations, but face limitations due to a lack of diverse training data as well as long design flow turnaround times (T A T). We propose ArtNet, a novel artificial netlist generator designed to tackle these issues. By producing realistic artificial datasets that more closely match given target parameters, ArtNet enables more efficient PPA optimization and exploration of flows and design enablements. In the context of CNN-based DRV prediction, ArtNet's data augmentation improves F1 score by 0.16 compared to using only the original (real) dataset. In the DTCO context, ArtNet-generated mini-brains achieve a PPA match up to 97.94%, demonstrating close alignment with design metrics of targeted full-scale block designs. S modern designs increase in complexity and scale, improvement of power, performance, and area (PP A) has become more challenging. Place-and-route (P&R) tools rely heavily on heuristics, but struggle with problem scale and the need to balance turnaround time (T A T) against quality of results (QoR). Machine learning (ML) offers the promise of T A T reduction through prediction and optimization of design processes to avoid iterative design loops [24]. However, data requirements of ML are difficult to satisfy, and obtaining high-quality, sharable design datasets remains a key challenge. Restrictions on sharing of proprietary designs and EDA tool outputs hinder creation of comprehensive datasets, limiting the effectiveness of ML models and underlying research efforts. At the same time, the slowdown of Moore's Law has made design-technology co-optimization (DTCO) essential to PP A improvement in advanced nodes [4] [5]. However, co-exploration of the broad solution space for design and technology is gated by large tool and flow T A T on real designs.