Automated Circuit Design Flaw Detection via Timing Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for analyzing end point reports of electronic circuit designs are cumbersome and require extensive experience, as they deliver complex data that is difficult to interpret, leading to time-consuming manual analysis to identify and address circuit design flaws.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that loads static timing analysis results, selects critical paths, provides technology-specific context data, and determines design quality parameters to automatically identify design problem areas and their root causes, enabling automated detection and recommendation for improvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual analysis of endpoint reports is performed by system designers, then circuit design flaws can be identified, but the process is time-consuming and requires extensive experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing endpoint reports and identifying circuit design flaws without requiring manual intervention from system designers. The automated analysis engine processes the reports, extracts critical information, and generates findings independently, eliminating the need for expert manual review while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual human analysis with an automated computational system. The analysis engine uses algorithmic processing to substitute human expertise and manual review steps, transforming the qualitative, experience-dependent manual process into a quantitative, automated computational process that maintains precision while dramatically reducing time requirements.
2Measurement precision
If manual analysis steps are performed to find circuit design flaws in endpoint reports, then accurate identification is achieved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple manual analysis steps into a single integrated automated analysis engine. By combining path extraction, timing violation detection, and flaw identification into one unified system, the complexity of the multi-step manual process is consolidated into a streamlined automated workflow that maintains identification accuracy while reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The analysis engine performs multiple functions universally - it can extract paths, detect timing violations, identify design flaws, and generate reports all through a single automated system. This multi-functional capability replaces several specialized manual analysis tasks, maintaining comprehensive detection accuracy while simplifying the overall process structure through universal automation.
3Speed
If synthesis tools are used for selected functions, then operational speed increases, but timing problems remain in synthesized circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by automatically analyzing endpoint reports generated from synthesis tools and identifying timing violations in the synthesized circuits. This feedback loop detects problems that the synthesis tools missed, allowing designers to correct timing issues while maintaining the high operational speed achieved through synthesis, thus improving reliability without sacrificing performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An end point report for a design of an electronic circuit may be analyzed. Results of a static timing analysis run are loaded, a path from the loaded results is selected, and technology specific context data is provided. Additionally, a determination is made for every test point of the selected path of design quality parameters for determining a design problem area, and a determination is made for every design problem area, of a root cause by analyzing design problem area data in comparison to related ones of the technology specific context data.