Semiconductor Timing Path Compaction for Constraint Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing design optimization and synthesis processes for semiconductor circuits are inefficient due to the high number of redundant or non-active paths and multi-clock paths, which increase optimization time and complexity, making it difficult to achieve compact, readable, and testable designs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a path compaction technique that reduces the number of constraints and combines paths without impacting functional and timing constraints, using a path compaction tool to identify and eliminate false and multi-cycle paths, and applying methods like redundant 'through' element removal, 'from' and 'to' list compaction, and constraint rewriting to simplify the optimization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each path constraint is checked individually during optimization, then the optimization can be performed based on specific constraints, but the time taken for optimization increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual path constraints into a single consolidated constraint by identifying common 'through' elements across multiple paths. Instead of checking each path separately, the system combines paths that share common intermediate elements and creates a unified constraint representation, thereby reducing the total number of constraint checks required during optimization while maintaining the precision of individual constraint validation.
2Productivity
If the number of paths and constraints is reduced at the RTL level, then the optimization time is reduced and design becomes more compact, but the functional and timing constraints must be preserved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary path compaction and constraint consolidation at the RTL level before the main optimization process. By pre-identifying and merging redundant paths, and pre-consolidating constraints that share common 'through' elements, the system prepares a simplified constraint set that maintains all necessary functional and timing requirements. This preliminary action ensures that subsequent optimization operates on a reduced constraint set without sacrificing constraint satisfaction or design reliability.
3Ease of operation
If redundant or non-active paths are eliminated, then the design becomes more readable and testable, but the complexity of identifying these paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated path compaction system that self-identifies redundant and non-active paths by analyzing the constraint structure and 'through' element patterns. The system automatically detects paths that can be merged or eliminated based on shared intermediate elements, without requiring manual intervention or complex external analysis tools. This self-service approach handles the complexity of path identification internally while presenting a simplified, more readable design to the user.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique and apparatus for reducing the complexity of optimizing the performance of a designed semiconductor circuit is disclosed. This technique of path compaction is used to reduce the time taken for optimization. The path compaction tool is used in design optimization to reduce the optimizer execution time. Compaction helps readability, usability and reduces synthesis and static timing analyzer (STA) runtime. The aim of path compaction is to reduce the number of constraints the optimizer has to go through during the optimization process. Path compaction has three dimensions. The first is to reduce number of “-through” elements in the constraint, thereby reducing the complexity of constraints developed The second is to combine the paths to reduce the number of constraints. The third is to combine the constraints to reduce the number of constraints to be checked and optimized. Path compaction is used when generating timing exception using timing exception tools.