Sensitivity Calculation Filtering for Statistical Static Timing Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current static timing analysis methods for integrated circuits are inefficient due to the need to perform computationally expensive sensitivity calculations on trivial sensitivities, which have little impact on the final timing outcome, wasting processing resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for sensitivity calculation filtering that identifies timing parameters contributing to delay calculations and determines whether they significantly impact the results, avoiding unnecessary sensitivity calculations by filtering out trivial changes, thereby reducing computational effort and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensitivity calculations are performed on all timing parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to computationally expensive calculations on trivial sensitivities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a pre-analysis to identify trivial sensitivities before conducting the full sensitivity calculation. The system calculates preliminary sensitivity values or uses heuristic rules to determine which timing parameters are likely to have trivial impacts on the final timing outcome. This preliminary identification allows the system to filter out trivial sensitivities in advance, avoiding the computationally expensive full sensitivity calculations on those parameters while maintaining accuracy on significant parameters.
2Productivity
If filtering is applied to avoid trivial sensitivity calculations, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate by potentially missing significant timing parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the results of preliminary sensitivity analysis to dynamically adjust and refine the filtering criteria. The system performs an initial round of sensitivity calculations, identifies which parameters have trivial impacts based on threshold comparisons, and uses this feedback to inform subsequent analysis rounds. This iterative feedback mechanism ensures that the filtering becomes increasingly accurate, maintaining measurement precision while maximizing productivity gains by avoiding redundant calculations on trivial parameters.
3Reliability
If all sensitivity calculations are performed, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to unnecessary computational effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting and removing trivial sensitivities from the set of parameters requiring full sensitivity calculation. The system identifies timing parameters whose sensitivities have minimal impact on the final timing analysis results and extracts these from the main analysis workflow. By taking out these trivial parameters, the system performs sensitivity calculations only on the significant parameters that truly impact reliability, thereby maintaining timing analysis reliability while significantly reducing the time loss associated with unnecessary computational effort on trivial parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of techniques for statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit are disclosed. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit is provided. The method may comprise identifying a timing parameter that contributes to a delay calculation. The method may further comprise determining, by a processing device, whether the identified timing parameter significantly impacts the delay calculation. The method may also comprise, responsive to determining that the identified timing parameter does not significantly impact the delay calculation, avoiding a sensitivity calculation for the identified timing parameter.