Puzzle 16 of 100

A strong output

Goal

Y now drives a large load. Widen the transistors so that both edges are at least as fast as the target.

Die: 14 by 14 squares
Layers: Metal, Polysilicon, Contact, N active, P active, N well
Input: A
Output: Y
Supply: VDD
Ground: GND

Go to the solution

Hint

Current grows with the width of a channel, so a transistor twice as wide switches the same load in about half the time.

Solution

This is the game's reference drawing for the puzzle. It meets the goal and passes the design rules. Other drawings can pass as well.

Top View of the solved die for puzzle 16, A strong output, with the Side View below it. — Top View of the solved die, captured from the game. Paths that carry a high level at the moment shown are lit. The Side View below cuts through the row between the dashed lines.

The game window in Isometric View with the solved die for puzzle 16, A strong output, the guide, and the scope. — The whole game window in Isometric View. The scope on the right compares each output with its target band, and the message above it confirms that the drawing passes.

Solution drawing for puzzle 16, A strong output, drawn on a numbered grid with every layer in its game color and pattern. — The solution on the grid. Squares are numbered from the top left corner, so you can count them. The dashed outline marks the squares you draw, change, or erase; the rest is drawn when the puzzle opens.

Legend

Metal57 squares
Polysilicon12 squares
Contact13 squares
N active10 squares
P active20 squares
N well48 squares
Input padA
Output padY
Supply padVDD
Ground padGND
Squares you draw, change, or erase26 squares

About the drawing

The drawing uses 104 of the die's 196 squares.
Part of the drawing is in place when the puzzle opens. To finish it, paint 15 empty squares and change 11 drawn squares.
It forms 2 transistors: 1 N transistor and 1 P transistor. Each one is a place where polysilicon crosses active silicon.
13 contacts join metal to the polysilicon or active silicon under it.

Starting drawing for puzzle 16, A strong output, on a numbered grid. — The drawing when the puzzle opens. The dashed outline marks the squares the solution changes.