Adaptive Timing Window Optimization for Crosstalk Delay Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timing analysis methods for electronic circuit designs suffer from undue pessimism and optimism, particularly in computing crosstalk delay, which can lead to inaccurate timing verification and potential chip failures due to excessive pessimism or missed timing violations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that adaptively adjust timing windows for victim nodes in electronic circuit designs to optimize crosstalk delay computations, using a timing graph and signal integrity analysis to identify victim and aggressor nodes, and applying optimized timing windows to reduce computational pessimism and optimism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional static timing analysis methods are used to compute crosstalk delay, then timing verification can be performed efficiently, but undue pessimism or optimism is introduced leading to inaccurate timing results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the timing window adaptive rather than fixed. The timing window is dynamically adjusted based on the actual signal propagation characteristics and crosstalk effects identified during analysis. This allows the analysis to adapt to different circuit conditions and accurately capture the true timing behavior without introducing undue pessimism or optimism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of timing window to optimize crosstalk delay computation. By adjusting the timing window parameters based on circuit characteristics and crosstalk effects, the method achieves more accurate timing verification while maintaining computational efficiency. The timing window is modified to reflect actual signal behavior rather than using conservative fixed values.
2Reliability
If timing windows are fixed to ensure worst-case coverage, then reliability is improved, but computational pessimism increases leading to false timing violations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a preliminary round of signal integrity analysis before final timing verification. This preliminary analysis identifies potential crosstalk effects and informs the adjustment of timing windows, allowing the final verification to be both reliable and accurate without losing important timing path information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by iteratively refining the timing window based on results from signal integrity analysis. The timing window is adjusted according to the actual crosstalk effects observed, creating a feedback loop that improves accuracy while maintaining reliability. This iterative process eliminates false violations by incorporating actual circuit behavior into the timing constraints.
3Device complexity
If signal integrity analysis is performed with fixed timing windows, then computational simplicity is maintained, but accuracy of crosstalk delay computation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the timing analysis into distinct phases: initial timing analysis, signal integrity analysis, and refined timing verification. Each phase uses appropriately sized timing windows, breaking down the complex problem into manageable segments that maintain computational simplicity while improving overall accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for timing analysis of an electronic circuit design. A timing graph defines a plurality of timing paths through different subsections of the electronic circuit design. A timing window is defined for each of the nodes included in a timing path. At least one preliminary round of a predetermined signal integrity analysis is executed on the circuit design based on the timing windows to identify at least one pair of crosstalk-coupled victim and aggressor nodes. Each victim node's timing window is adaptively adjusted according to a predetermined timing property thereof. At least one primary round of the predetermined signal integrity analysis is executed on the electronic circuit design based in part on this adaptively adjusted timing window for each victim node to generate a delay, which is annotated to the timing graph. A predetermined static timing analysis is executed based on the delay-annotated timing graph.