Pin Planning to Mitigate SSO Sensitivity

UltraScale Architecture SelectIO Resources User Guide (UG571)

Document ID
UG571
Release Date
2023-08-31
Revision
1.15 English

IMPORTANT: When performing pin planning of a design, it is important to choose I/O pin placements that separate strong outputs and/or SSOs from sensitive inputs and outputs (particularly asynchronous inputs).

Strong outputs tend to be the class-II versions of HSTL and SSTL drivers, PCI™ variants, and any LVCMOS or LVTTL with drive strengths over 8 mA. Sensitive inputs and outputs can have a low noise margin and tend to be high-speed signals or signals where the swing is reduced by parallel receiver termination. Because localized SSO noise is based on the proximity of signals to one another, it is important to try to separate signals based on the position of the package solder balls. To further reduce potential noise induced from SSOs, outputs should be distributed evenly rather than clustered in one area. SSOs within a bank should be spread across the bank as much as possible. Whenever possible, SSOs should be distributed into multiple banks.

The floorplanning capability in the Vivado Design Suite can help accomplish pin planning to avoid SSO sensitivity issues. By clicking on a package pin in the Package window, a corresponding IOB is highlighted in the Device window. These IOB site types represent the die pads and show the relative physical location around the die edge. Through the use of the floorplanning tool, intelligent pin placement can be used to separate the die pads of pins. This is implemented by separating the die pads of pins with strong outputs and SSOs from the die pads of pins with sensitive inputs and outputs. SSO effects can also be minimized by adding virtual GND pins and virtual V CCO pins. A virtual GND is created by defining an output pin driven by a logic 0 at the highest drive strength available and connected to GND on the board. Similarly, a virtual V CCO pin is created by defining an output pin driven by a logic 1 at the highest drive strength and connected to V CCO on the board.