# Transformer Network-based Reinforcement Learning Method for Power Distribution Network (PDN) Optimization of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM)

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.15722 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.15722/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 5 of its 52 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 29 Mar 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.03385/) (2015)
- [Adam: A Method for Stochastic Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1412.6980/) (2014)
- [Attention, Learn to Solve Routing Problems!](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1803.08475/) (2018)
- [Neural Combinatorial Optimization with Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.09940/) (2016)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [ReEvo: Large Language Models as Hyper-Heuristics with Reflective Evolution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01145/) (2024)
- [Ant Colony Sampling with GFlowNets for Combinatorial Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.07041/) (2024)
- [DevFormer: A Symmetric Transformer for Context-Aware Device Placement](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.13225/) (2022)
- [Deep Analysis of Time Series Data for Smart Grid Startup Strategies: A Transformer-LSTM-PSO Model Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.12129/) (2024)
- [Hierarchical Decoupling Capacitor Optimization for Power Distribution Network of 2.5D ICs with Co-Analysis of Frequency and Time Domains Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.04737/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In this article, for the first time, we propose a transformer network-based reinforcement learning (RL) method for power distribution network (PDN) optimization of high bandwidth memory (HBM). The proposed method can provide an optimal decoupling capacitor (decap) design to maximize the reduction of PDN self- and transfer impedance seen at multiple ports. An attention-based transformer network is implemented to directly parameterize decap optimization policy. The optimality performance is significantly improved since the attention mechanism has powerful expression to explore massive combinatorial space for decap assignments. Moreover, it can capture sequential relationships between the decap assignments. The computing time for optimization is dramatically reduced due to the reusable network on positions of probing ports and decap assignment candidates. This is because the transformer network has a context embedding process to capture meta-features including probing ports positions. In addition, the network is trained with randomly generated data sets. Therefore, without additional training, the trained network can solve new decap optimization problems. The computing time for training and data cost are critically decreased due to the scalability of the network. Thanks to its shared weight property, the network can adapt to a larger scale of problems without additional training. For verification, we compare the results with conventional genetic algorithm (GA), random search (RS), and all the previous RL-based methods. As a result, the proposed method outperforms in all the following aspects: optimality performance, computing time, and data efficiency.