Flip-Flop Clock Routing Layout for Faster Master-Slave Timing

The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric routing where the clock signal path to the master latch circuit is deliberately made longer than the path to the slave latch circuit. This is achieved by routing the clock signal through additional intermediate cells or taking a longer path specifically to the master latch, while keeping the slave latch path direct. This localized modification of routing length at specific positions in the circuit achieves the desired time delay differentiation without complicating the entire routing structure.

The patent utilizes the spatial dimension in the layout by positioning the master latch circuit farther away from the clock circuit in the physical layout, or by inserting intermediate cells between the clock circuit and master latch circuit. This dimensional approach allows the clock signal to traverse a longer physical path or pass through additional stages, thereby increasing the time delay to the master latch circuit without requiring complex temporal control mechanisms.

The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric routing where the clock signal path to the master latch circuit is deliberately made longer than the path to the slave latch circuit. This is achieved by routing the clock signal through additional intermediate cells or taking a longer path specifically to the master latch, while keeping the slave latch path direct. This localized modification of routing length at specific positions in the circuit achieves the desired time delay differentiation without complicating the entire routing structure.

The patent utilizes the spatial dimension in the layout by positioning the master latch circuit farther away from the clock circuit in the physical layout, or by inserting intermediate cells between the clock circuit and master latch circuit. This dimensional approach allows the clock signal to traverse a longer physical path or pass through additional stages, thereby increasing the time delay to the master latch circuit without requiring complex temporal control mechanisms.

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the asymmetric routing structure during the design and layout phase. The longer path to the master latch circuit and the direct path to the slave latch circuit are established in advance through careful cell placement and routing design. This preliminary structuring of time delays eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments during operation, thereby achieving high flop speed without imposing excessive precision requirements on manufacturing variations.

The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the physical parameters of the routing paths - specifically the length and topology of clock signal paths to different latch circuits. By changing these geometric parameters during design, the patent creates inherent time delay differences that are robust to manufacturing variations, allowing high flop speed to be achieved without requiring extreme manufacturing precision.