Integrated Circuit Memory Selection Through Pre-Timing Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and diversity of semiconductor manufacturing require efficient methods to select memory configurations for integrated circuits, particularly in AI ICs, to ensure optimal performance, power, and size within limited development schedules.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for designing integrated circuits that involve selecting a memory combination, generating timing information data, performing pre-timing analysis, and synthesizing the circuit only when timing conditions are met, thereby reducing unnecessary timing margins and increasing flexibility in memory selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional memory selection methods are used in IC design, then timing safety is maintained through conservative timing margins, but development time increases and memory selection flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs pre-timing analysis on memory combinations before final IC synthesis. By conducting timing analysis in advance on candidate memory configurations, the system identifies viable options early in the design process, avoiding time-consuming iterative analysis later while ensuring timing requirements are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial timing analysis by focusing only on critical memory combinations and timing paths rather than performing exhaustive analysis on all possible configurations. This selective approach reduces overall analysis time while maintaining sufficient timing verification for the most impactful memory selections.
2Reliability
If conservative timing margins are applied to ensure timing safety, then reliability is improved, but memory selection flexibility and performance optimization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By performing pre-timing analysis on multiple memory candidate combinations before final selection, the system identifies which memory options can meet timing requirements without requiring excessive timing margins. This allows designers to select from a broader range of memory configurations while ensuring timing safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing analysis parameters by conducting analysis at different stages of the design process with different levels of detail. Pre-timing analysis uses optimized parameters for early screening, while final timing analysis uses comprehensive parameters for verification, allowing flexible memory selection without compromising timing safety.
3Measurement precision
If exhaustive timing analysis is performed on all memory combinations, then timing precision is improved, but productivity and development efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing analysis process into multiple stages: pre-timing analysis for initial screening of memory combinations, and final timing analysis for verification of selected configurations. Each stage uses appropriate analysis depth, avoiding the need for exhaustive high-precision analysis on all possible combinations while maintaining overall timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial timing analysis by focusing computational resources on the most critical memory combinations and timing paths. Rather than performing exhaustive analysis on all possibilities, the system identifies and analyzes only the subset of configurations that are most likely to be selected and have the greatest impact on timing performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and system for designing an integrated circuit. The method of designing an integrated circuit by using a computing system includes selecting a memory combination from among a memory candidate group, generating timing information data of the selected memory combination, generating first result data by performing a first pre-timing analysis module based on the timing information data, determining whether the first result data satisfies a first timing condition, and when the first result data satisfies the first timing condition, generating synthesized data by synthesizing the integrated circuit.