Physically Aware Clock Tree Planning GUI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional logic synthesis of integrated circuits lacks visibility into the consequences of logic implementation choices on clock synthesis, leading to imprecise timing and power estimation, aggressive clock gating, and difficulty in timing closure, as clock synthesis is typically performed late in the design flow without considering physical information.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) for physically aware clock tree planning allows designers to visualize and modify clock tree plans early in the design flow, incorporating physical information from logic synthesis tools to optimize clock network topology, timing, and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clock synthesis is performed late in the design flow, then the design process follows traditional sequencing, but timing and power estimation precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs clock synthesis earlier in the design flow, before final logic optimization, to obtain preliminary timing and power estimates. This early clock synthesis allows designers to make informed decisions about logic implementation choices while physical information is still available and modifiable, improving estimation precision without requiring complete redesign of the entire flow.
2Reliability
If physical information is not utilized during logic synthesis, then logic synthesis is simpler and faster, but clock synthesis quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges clock synthesis operations with logic synthesis by integrating clock tree planning into the logic synthesis tool. This combination allows physical information from logic synthesis to be utilized during clock synthesis, improving clock synthesis quality through better-informed decisions about clock gate placement, grouping, and cloning while maintaining a unified tool interface.
3Use of energy by moving object
If clock gating is performed aggressively without precise estimation, then power consumption may be reduced, but timing closure difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where timing and power estimates from early clock synthesis are used to guide subsequent logic optimization and clock gating decisions. This feedback loop allows designers to adjust clock gating aggressiveness based on actual timing and power measurements, achieving power reduction while maintaining timing closure through iterative refinement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If clock synthesis occurs late, then the design flow remains traditional, but the ability to group and clone clock signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary clock synthesis and clock tree planning early in the design flow when logic is still being optimized. This timing allows sufficient opportunity to group and clone clock signals to match the physical netlist structure, improving adaptability for power optimization while maintaining adequate time for subsequent design iterations and refinements.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for displaying and analyzing a clock gate tree topology is disclosed. The method includes displaying a bounding box of each flip-flop cluster in the floor plan of the integrated circuit; and for each flip-flop cluster, calculating the coordinates for a center of mass of the flip-flop cluster, displaying the position of the clock gate driving the flip-flops in the flip-flop cluster with respect to the center of mass of the flip-flop cluster, displaying first air lines from the enable signal gate to the clock gate with a first color, and displaying second air lines from the clock gate to the center of mass of the flip-flop cluster with a second color differing from the first color.