Circuits: VLSI

Puzzle 9 of 100

A wide strip

Goal

Connect A to Y with polysilicon so that Y follows A as quickly as the target. This puzzle offers only Polysilicon and Contact.

Die
26 by 9 squares
Layers
Polysilicon, Contact
Input
A
Output
Y

Go to the solution

New in this puzzle

Width lowers resistance

A strip's resistance is its length in squares divided by its width. A strip four squares wide resists a quarter as much as a strip one square wide, when contacts cover its ends.

Hint

A strip one square wide is too slow over this distance. Make the strip several squares wide and place a column of contacts across each end, so the current spreads over the whole width.

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 9, A wide strip, 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 9, A wide strip, 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 9, A wide strip, 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.

Legend

  • Metal10 squares
  • Polysilicon96 squares
  • Contact8 squares
  • Input padA
  • Output padY

About the drawing

  • The drawing uses 98 of the die's 234 squares.
  • The die starts empty, so you draw every square.
  • 8 contacts join metal to the polysilicon or active silicon under it.