Variable accuracy parameter modeling in statistical timing

US9483604B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Eric A. Foreman · Saint Albans, US
• Jeffrey G. Hemmett · South Burlington, US
• Kerim Kalafala · Rhinebeck, US
• Gregory M. Schaeffer · Poughkeepsie, US
• Stephen G. Shuma · Underhill, US
• Alexander J. Suess · Hopewell Junction, US
• Chandramouli Visweswariah · Croton-on-Hudson, US
• Michael H. Wood · Detroit, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 2015
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2016
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2119/12
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods compute a mean timing value of an integrated circuit design for variables using a first timing calculation of relatively higher accuracy; and calculate a first timing value of the integrated circuit design for the variables, using a second timing calculation having a relatively lower accuracy. Such systems and methods calculate second timing values of the integrated circuit design for additional sets of variables using the second timing calculation; and calculate finite differences of each of the second timing values to the first timing value. Thus, these systems and methods calculate a statistical sensitivity of the first timing value to the additional sets of variables based on the finite differences. Further, such systems and methods calculate a statistical sensitivity of the mean timing value to the additional sets of values based on the statistical sensitivity of the first timing value to the additional sets of values.