Automated Timing Violation Correction in IC Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional design tools require manual iterative fixes and lengthy re-running of timing analysis to address minimum timing violations in integrated circuits, often introducing maximum timing violations in the process.
Innovation Solution
An automated design tool that identifies and corrects minimum timing violations by systematically adding delays to specific locations in the circuit path, evaluating each change, and updating node reports to ensure acceptable corrections without introducing maximum timing violations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual iterative fixes are used to correct minimum timing violations, then timing violations can be addressed, but the design cycle time increases significantly and maximum timing violations may be introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of all minimum timing violation paths before making any corrections. The system analyzes the entire circuit, identifies all paths with timing violations, and prepares a comprehensive correction plan that addresses multiple violations simultaneously, rather than fixing them one at a time through iterative manual processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically identifies, analyzes, and generates corrections for timing violations without requiring manual designer intervention. The tool self-evaluates the circuit netlist, determines the appropriate delay additions, and produces correction recommendations autonomously, eliminating the time-consuming manual iterative fix process
2Measurement precision
If timing analysis is re-run repeatedly to verify manual fixes, then correction accuracy can be checked, but productivity decreases due to multiple lengthy analysis runs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a comprehensive preliminary timing analysis that identifies all minimum timing violation paths in one complete pass through the circuit. This single thorough analysis replaces multiple sequential analysis runs, achieving the same verification accuracy while dramatically improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple timing analysis operations into a single integrated analysis pass. Instead of running separate analyses for each potential violation or iterative fix verification, the system combines all timing checks into one comprehensive evaluation that identifies and verifies all corrections simultaneously
3Reliability
If manual fixes are applied iteratively, then timing violations can be corrected, but the process complexity and designer workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the entire timing violation correction process without manual intervention. It self-identifies violation paths, calculates appropriate delay additions, determines optimal insertion locations, and generates correction recommendations, eliminating the complex iterative manual process while maintaining high correction reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of iterative fix-and-verify with an automated computational system. The tool uses algorithmic analysis to identify violations and generate corrections, substituting the manual designer workflow with an automated electronic design automation process that reduces complexity while maintaining accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A design tool for automatically identifying minimum timing violation corrections in an integrated circuit (IC) design includes program instructions executable by a processor to identify locations to add a delay along each circuit path having a minimum timing violation. The tool may also sequentially try each of a plurality of circuit changes that add the delay and to evaluate a result of each circuit change until an acceptable percentage of the minimum timing violation has been corrected. In response to each circuit change, the design tool may update an internal node report, which includes a listing of circuit nodes and a maximum timing slack available at each node, by reducing a maximum slack value of each affected node by an amount of the added delay. The design tool may generate an output report that includes a listing of the circuit changes which correct the minimum timing violations.