International Business Machines Corporation

Globalfoundries Inc.

Stephen Gerard Shuma

Kerim Kalafala

Kenneth Joseph Goodnow

Eric A Foreman

Peter Albert Twombly

Chandramouli Visweswariah

Jeffrey G Hemmett

Gregory M Schaeffer

Vladimir P Zolotov

Natesan Venkateswaran

Paul Steven Zuchowski

Michael H Wood

Nathan C Buck

Mark Steven Styduhar

Oscar Conrad Strohacker

Corey Kenneth Barrows

Alexander Joel Suess

Debjit Sinha

Douglas Wayne Kemerer

David James Hathaway

Viresh Paruthi

Wolfgang Roesner

James Douglas Warnock

Douglas Willard Stout

Robert J Allen

Todd Edwin Leonard

Ali S El-Zein

Eric Jason Fluhr

Peter Claude Elmendorf

Andrew S Wienick

Derek E Williams

Alvan Wing Ng

Benedikt Geukes

Hemlata Gupta

Manish Verma

Naiju K Abdul

Stephen J Barnfield

Jonathan P Ebbers

Klaus-Dieter Schubert

Jennifer E Basile

Jeremy J Leitzen

Chung-Lung K Shum

Michael Richard Ouellette

Paul Gerard Villarrubia

Robert Alan Cargnoni

Manjul Bhushan

John P Dubuque

Roland A Bechade

Brian M Dreibelbis

Sean Michael Carey

Robert J Shadowen

Dileep N Netrabile

Birgit Schubert

Lyle Jackson

Robert Hayosh

Robert Francis Hayosh

Edward Armayor McQuade

Peter A Twembly

Paul S Zuchewski

A first plurality of hardware description language (HDL) files describe a hierarchical integrated circuit design utilizing a simplified HDL syntax that omits specification of logical clock connections for at least some entities in the hierarchical integrated circuit design. The hierarchical integrated circuit design as described by the first plurality of HDL files is processed to automatically add logical clock connections for entities in the hierarchical integrated circuit design for which specification of logical clock connections are omitted in the first plurality of HDL files. Based on the processing, a second plurality of HDL files defining the hierarchical integrated circuit design is generated.

Logical clock connection in an integrated circuit design

Based on a directive in a control file, a processor pre-routes, within a hierarchical integrated circuit design, a signal through one or more levels of design hierarchy between a signal source at a higher level of the design hierarchy and an entity instance at a lower level of the design hierarchy. The processor processes entity instances in the design hierarchy in a bottom-up manner to insert technology-specific structures into the hierarchical integrated circuit design. During the processing, the processor inserts into a particular entity instance of the design hierarchy a technology-specific structure and connects the technology-specific structure to the signal pre-routed to the particular entity instance by the pre-routing.

Signal pre-routing in an integrated circuit design

A processor receives, as input, a first hardware description language (HDL) file defining an entity of a modular circuit design. The first HDL file instantiates, by a storage element declaration in a hardware description language, a storage element within the entity. The first HDL file omits a port map for the storage element. Based on the first HDL file, the processor automatically fully elaborates a port map for the storage element. The processor stores, in data storage, a derived second HDL file defining the entity and including the port map.

Clock mapping in an integrated circuit design

Examples of techniques for statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one example according to aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method comprises performing an initial statistical static timing analysis of the integrated circuit to create a parameterized model of the integrated circuit for a plurality of paths using a plurality of timing corners to calculate a timing value for each of the plurality of paths, each of the plurality of timing corners representing a set of timing performance parameters. The method further comprises determining at least one worst timing corner from the parameterized model for each of the plurality of paths based on the initial statistical static timing analysis and calculated timing value for each of the plurality of paths. The method also comprises performing a subsequent analysis of the integrated circuit using the at least one worst timing corner.

Selection of corners and/or margins using statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit

The computer identifies an integrated circuit design; identifies a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design; defines one or more static single sided variables; defines one or more regions of one or more of the defined one or more static single sided variables that are treated linearly; defines one or more multi-sided variables based on the defined one or more regions of the one or more of the defined one or more static single sided variables; identifies one or more timing paths within the identified integrated circuit design; performs a statistical static timing analysis on the identified timing model for the identified one or more timing paths within the identified integrated circuit design utilizing the defined one or more multi-sided variables; provides one or more timing quantities that project within a multi-parameter space based on the performed statistical static timing analysis.

Multi-sided variations for creating integrated circuits

Creating an integrated circuit with non-linear variations, the computer identifies an integrated circuit design; identifies a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design; defines one or more static single sided variables; defines one or more regions of one or more of the defined one or more static single sided variables that are treated linearly; defines one or more multi-sided variables based on the defined one or more regions of the one or more of the defined one or more static single sided variables; identifies one or more timing paths within the identified integrated circuit design; performs a statistical static timing analysis on the identified timing model for the identified one or more timing paths within the identified integrated circuit design utilizing the defined one or more multi-sided variables; provides one or more timing quantities that project within a multi-parameter space based on the performed statistical static timing analysis.

A design and timing model for at least one circuit path of at least a portion of an IC design is loaded into a computer. At least one canonical clock variable associated with the model is defined; it includes at least one source of variation. The computer is used to perform an SSTA of the at least one circuit path, based on the design and timing model and the at least one canonical clock variable, to obtain slack canonical data. A clock period is projected, based on the slack canonical data, such that a cycle time canonical is projected to a different space than a logic canonical. Results of the SSTA and the projected clock period are output to determine performance compliance. Efficient operation of the computer is enhanced by analyzing a slack vector in a single timing run, loaded once, and multithreading timing propagation.

Independently projecting a canonical clock

A method, system, and compute program product use a generalized macro or a generalized macro timing abstract for timing analysis in a specific timing context. The method includes setting up a timer, and determining a divide ratio of each external clock divider of one or more external clock dividers associated with the generalized macro or the generalized macro timing abstract programmatically as a function of another value. The method also includes performing the timing analysis using the divide ratios of the one or more external clock dividers. Obtaining a physical implementation of an integrated circuit is based on the timing analysis.

Programmable clock division methodology with in-context frequency checking

Creating by a computer an integrated circuit with non-linear variations, the computer identifies an integrated circuit design; identifies a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design; defines one or more static single sided variables; defines one or more regions of the defined one or more static single sided variables that are treated linearly; defines one or more multi-sided variables based on the defined one or more regions of the defined one or more static single sided variables; identifies one or more timing paths within the identified integrated circuit design; performs a statistical static timing analysis on the identified timing model for the identified one or more timing paths within the identified integrated circuit design utilizing the defined one or more multi-sided variables; provides one or more timing quantities that project within a multi-parameter space based on the performed statistical static timing analysis.

Examples of techniques for statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit are disclosed. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit is provided. The method may comprise identifying a timing parameter that contributes to a delay calculation. The method may further comprise determining, by a processing device, whether the identified timing parameter significantly impacts the delay calculation. The method may also comprise, responsive to determining that the identified timing parameter does not significantly impact the delay calculation, avoiding a sensitivity calculation for the identified timing parameter.

Sensitivity calculation filtering for statistical static timing analysis of an integrated circuit

In an approach for determining voltage and frequency pairs, the computer identifies an integrated circuit design. The computer identifies a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design. The computer identifies at least a nominal voltage, a nominal clock signal, and a voltage range associated with the integrated circuit design. The computer receives a number n that defines the number of at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range. The computer analyzes the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range. The computer calculates a nominal slack. The computer calculates one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack. The computer provides a report based on the calculated one or more clock periods.

Voltage and frequency balancing at nominal point

In an approach for addressing process and voltage points across voltage and process space, a computer identifies an integrated circuit design. The computer identifies a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design. The computer identifies a minimum set of voltage/process pairs associated with the integrated circuit design. The computer identifies a number n that defines the number of finite differencing operations to be performed for the identified minimum set of voltage/process pairs. The computer performs a single statistical static timing analysis with multi-corner projection for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n that provides a finite difference for each number of finite differencing operations to be performed based on n for the identified minimum set of voltage/process pairs. The computer performs addressing based on the performed statistical static timing analysis. The computer provides a report.

Addressing of process and voltage points

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Underhill, VT, United States of America

Stephen Gerard Shuma