Multi-Mode Multi-Corner Timing Analysis View Clustering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current static timing analysis (STA) methods for integrated circuits are excessively time and resource consuming due to the need for separate calculations across multiple views, which include different conditions such as temperature and voltage variations, leading to inefficient multi-view analysis.
Innovation Solution
The method involves clustering views based on shared analysis and calculation steps to reuse results across multiple sets of factors, classifying views into full-shared, full-shared-unconstrained, and base-delay-shared categories to optimize memory usage and reduce redundant calculations, allowing for parallel processing of multiple nets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate STA calculations are performed for each view (temperature, voltage conditions), then timing analysis accuracy is maintained, but analysis time and computational resources increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple views (different temperature and voltage conditions) into a unified analysis framework where common calculation steps are performed once and shared across all views. By identifying and combining redundant operations in the timing analysis process, the system maintains accurate results for each view while eliminating duplicate computations, thereby reducing overall analysis time and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of shared calculation steps across multiple views before executing the full analysis. By pre-processing the analysis to determine which operations can be reused, the system prepares optimization opportunities in advance, allowing subsequent views to leverage previously computed results and avoid redundant calculations, thus improving efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
2Reliability
If complete multi-view analysis is performed for each unique combination of RC reduction, library file, and input waveform, then comprehensive timing verification is achieved, but computational resources and time consumption become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multi-view analysis process into distinct phases: identification of shared calculation steps, execution of common operations once, and distribution of results to individual views. By dividing the comprehensive analysis into manageable segments with clear boundaries, the system maintains thorough verification coverage while enabling parallel processing and result reuse across different RC reduction, library file, and input waveform combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal analysis framework where a single set of shared calculation steps serves multiple views simultaneously. The system designs the analysis process to be multi-functional, allowing the same computational routine to generate results applicable to different temperature conditions, voltage variations, and other parameters, thereby achieving comprehensive verification with reduced resource requirements.
3Measurement precision
If redundant calculations are performed across multiple views, then view-specific timing characteristics are accurately captured, but memory requirements and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a selective copying mechanism where only essential intermediate results are stored and reused across views, rather than duplicating entire calculation datasets. The system identifies which calculation outcomes can be safely copied and applied to multiple views, minimizing memory consumption while preserving the accuracy needed for view-specific timing characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing multi-mode multi-corner (MMMC) analysis such that multiple views or conditions can be analyzed together to improve runtime by taking advantage of common steps of analysis in different corners. Views are clustered based on their similarity to one another to take advantage of calculations and other tasks that may be shared between views during timing analysis. Then, during timing analysis, each net in the design is analyzed for each view.