Patent · US Expired

System and method for setup and hold characterization in integrated circuit cells

US6640330B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
8References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 2001
Grant dateOct 28, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/33
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An invention is disclosed for setup and hold time characterization in an integrated circuit cell. A setup time is obtained for a first constraint pin. A setup time is also calculated for a test point defined in the integrated circuit cell using the setup time for the first constraint pin and a first propagation delay from the first constraint pin to the test point. A setup time for a second constraint pin is determined based on the setup time for the test point and a second propagation delay from the second constraint pin to the test point. In addition to the setup time, a hold time can be obtained for the first constraint pin, and a hold time for the test point can be calculated using the hold time for the first constraint pin and the first propagation delay. Further, a hold time for the second constraint pin can be determined based on the hold time for the test point and the second propagation delay.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.