Content-Aware Timing Slack Apportionment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integrated circuit design techniques face challenges in efficiently apportioning slack on signal paths to accelerate design refinement and meet timing requirements.

Innovation Solution

The method involves performing timing analysis on signal paths, estimating slack by eliminating timing inefficiencies within components, and proportionally apportioning the estimated slack among components for subsequent design refinement iterations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional slack apportionment techniques are used, then timing analysis can be performed, but the design refinement process is slow and requires many iterations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign refinement speedVSAvoidnumber of iterations required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by estimating slack before final timing analysis is complete. The system performs content-based analysis to determine estimated slack values in advance, allowing the design refinement process to proceed with fewer iterations. This preliminary estimation of timing deficiencies enables faster convergence to a final physical design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If actual timing analysis is performed to determine precise slack values, then timing accuracy is improved, but the complexity and time required for analysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetiming accuracyVSAvoidanalysis complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating a simplified model of timing analysis through content-based analysis. Instead of performing complete actual timing analysis, the system analyzes component content to estimate slack values. This copying approach provides sufficient timing information for design refinement without the full complexity of complete timing analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from actual timing measurements to estimated slack values derived from content analysis. The system changes the parameter being analyzed from precise timing measurements to content-based estimates, which reduces analysis complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy for design iterations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250124205A1Content-aware apportionment of estimated timing slack

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

In an integrated circuit design, slack on a signal path of an integrated circuit design can be apportioned in order to accelerate design refinement. According to one method, timing analysis of the signal path of the integrated circuit design is performed. Estimated (as opposed to actual) slack on the signal path is determined through content-based analysis of components of the signal path based on elimination of timing inefficiencies within the components. The estimated slack is then proportionally apportioned among the components of the signal path for use in a subsequent iteration of design refinement.