Distance-Based Timing Analysis for Electronic Circuit Floorplanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of prototyping and floorplanning for electronic circuit designs is time-consuming due to the need for extensive what-if analyses and manual adjustments, often requiring significant time to await results and perform multiple iterations, especially when timing information is unavailable, leading to designers spending up to 70% of their design cycle time on these stages.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for prototyping and floorplanning that performs timing and congestion analyses using distance-based timing information, allowing for real-time or batch mode updates, and includes model reduction techniques to create abstracted designs, enabling interactive feedback and efficient placement of components, thereby reducing the complexity of electronic designs and improving timing analysis flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional timing analysis methods are used during floorplanning, then timing accuracy is improved, but design cycle time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the design process into two distinct phases: (1) floorplanning using fast distance-based timing estimates, and (2) detailed timing analysis using traditional methods only on critical paths after floorplanning is complete. This segmentation allows designers to work efficiently during floorplanning while maintaining timing accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary floorplanning and optimization using distance-based timing information before committing to detailed timing analysis. This preliminary action allows designers to explore multiple floorplan configurations quickly and converge on optimal layouts before performing computationally intensive traditional timing analysis.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple what-if analyses and manual adjustments are performed, then design optimization is improved, but the number of iterations and time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements immediate feedback mechanisms where distance-based timing analysis provides real-time guidance during floorplanning iterations. Designers receive instant feedback on the impact of placement decisions, enabling rapid what-if analyses without waiting for lengthy traditional timing analysis cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing analysis parameter from detailed temporal analysis to simplified distance-based estimation during floorplanning. This parameter change enables faster iteration while maintaining the ability to perform detailed timing analysis on final designs.
3Reliability
If detailed timing analysis is performed early in floorplanning, then timing constraints are satisfied, but computational complexity and analysis time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from temporal dimension (detailed timing analysis) to spatial dimension (distance-based analysis) during floorplanning. This dimensional change simplifies the computational problem while maintaining the ability to ensure timing constraints are met through subsequent detailed analysis of the finalized layout.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for implementing prototyping and floorplanning for electronic circuit designs are disclosed. The method identifies or generates a representation of a design, modifies or updates the representation by moving a circuit component in the representation. The representation may be characterized in the pre-placement or post-placement stage to determine or identify distance constraints constraining object pairs in the representation. The method performs a timing and/or congestion analysis with distance-based timing information having a spatial dimension rather than timing information having a temporal dimension for the representation of the electronic design. The timing and/or congestion analysis is performed during the circuit component is being moved or shortly after the circuit component has been moved. The results of the timing and/or congestion analysis are provided in an interactive manner or in a batch mode.