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

US9519747B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• GlobalFoundries Inc. · KY

Inventors

• Nathan C. Buck · Underhill, US
• Brian M. Dreibelbis · Underhill, US
• John P. Dubuque · Jericho, US
• Eric A. Foreman · Saint Albans, US
• David J. Hathaway · Underhill Center, US
• Jeffrey G. Hemmett · South Burlington, US
• Kerim Kalafala · Rhinebeck, US
• Gregory M. Schaeffer · Poughkeepsie, US
• Stephen G. Shuma · Underhill, US
• Natesan Venkateswaran · Hopewell Junction, US
• Chandramouli Visweswariah · Croton-on-Hudson, US
• Vladimir Zolotov · Putnam Valley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 26, 2015
• Grant date: Dec 13, 2016
• Expiry date: Jun 26, 2035

Classification

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

Abstract

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.