Static Timing Analysis Integration of Functional Analysis and CPPR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current static timing analysis methods incur unnecessary pessimism due to common path pessimism (CPP), where different delays are assumed for the same path in integrated circuit design, leading to overly pessimistic timing penalties and resource inefficiencies in separate implementations of functional analysis and CPPR.
Innovation Solution
Integrating functional analysis and common path pessimism removal (CPPR) within static timing analysis, allowing for path-by-path analysis to adjust timing slack and eliminate unnecessary CPPR and functional analysis by identifying 'don't care' paths, thereby optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate implementations of functional analysis and CPPR are performed, then timing analysis accuracy is improved, but computational resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges functional analysis and common path pessimism removal (CPPR) into a unified integrated timing analysis system. The integration allows the system to share computational resources, data structures, and processing logic between the two previously separate analyses, thereby reducing redundant computations and lowering overall resource consumption while maintaining the accuracy benefits of both analyses
2Measurement precision
If CPPR is applied to all paths, then timing penalty accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies CPPR selectively rather than uniformly to all paths. By analyzing path characteristics and identifying which paths actually exhibit common path pessimism, the system applies CPPR only to those specific paths where it is needed, thereby maintaining timing penalty accuracy while reducing overall processing time through targeted application
3Measurement precision
If functional analysis is performed on all failing paths, then timing violation detection accuracy is improved, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs functional analysis only on a subset of failing paths rather than all of them. By using preliminary filtering criteria and heuristics to identify which failing paths are most likely to contain actual timing violations, the system applies functional analysis selectively to those high-priority paths, maintaining detection accuracy while reducing computational overhead
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product to integrate functional analysis and common path pessimism removal (CPPR) in static timing analysis include determining initial path slack for a path for a given timing analysis test. The method also includes comparing the initial path slack with a threshold value to determine if the path passes or fails the given timing analysis test, and based on the path failing the given timing analysis test, performing the functional analysis on the path only based on performing the CPPR on the path, or performing the CPPR on the path only based on a result of performing the functional analysis on the path.