Dynamic and adaptive timing sensitivity during static timing analysis using look-up table

摘要

Methods and systems receive an integrated circuit design into a computerized device and perform an analysis of the integrated circuit design to identify characteristics of physical features of portions of the integrated circuit design. Such methods and systems determine whether to look up sensitivity of a timing value of a portion of the integrated circuit design to manufacturing process variables, voltage variables, and temperature variables (PVT variables) by: evaluating relationships between the characteristics of physical features of the portion of the integrated circuit design to generate an indicator value; and, based on whether the indicator value is within a table usage filter value range, either: calculating the sensitivity of the timing value to the PVT variables; or looking up a previously determined sensitivity of the timing value to the PVT variables from a look-up table.

主权项

1. A method for performing a static timing analysis used in integrated circuit chip design, said method comprising:
receiving an integrated circuit design into a computerized device; performing an analysis of said integrated circuit design to identify characteristics of physical features of portions of said integrated circuit design, using said computerized device; and determining sensitivities of timing values of different portions, respectively, of said integrated circuit design to manufacturing process variables, voltage variables, and temperature variables (PVT variables), using said computerized device, wherein, for each portion of said integrated circuit design, a sensitivity of a timing value is determined by:
evaluating, by said computerized device, relationships between said characteristics of physical features of said portion of said integrated circuit design to generate an indicator value;determining whether said indicator value is outside or within a table usage filter value range;when said indicator value is outside said table usage filter value range, calculating, by said computerized device, a calculated sensitivity value for said sensitivity of said timing value to said PVT variables; andwhen said indicator value is within said table usage filter range, looking up, by said computerized device, a previously determined sensitivity value for said sensitivity of said timing value to said PVT variables from a look-up table, wherein said look-up table is stored in a memory that is accessible by said computerized device and wherein using said look-up table reduces a runtime and memory requirements for said static timing analysis while maintaining accuracy.