Efficient generation of delay change curves for noise-aware static timing analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the concept of using analytical models to efficiently generate delay change curves (DCCs) that can then be used to characterize the impact of noise on any victim/aggressor configuration. Such an approach captures important noise considerations such as the possibility of delay change even when the switching windows of neighboring gates do not overlap. The technique is model-independent, which we demonstrate by using several crosstalk noise models to obtain results. Furthermore, we extend an existing noise model to more accurately handle multiple aggressors in the timing analysis framework. DCC results from the analytical approach closely match those from time-consuming SPICE simulations, making timing analysis using DCCs efficient as well as accurate.

Analyzing statistical timing behavior of coupled interconnects using quadratic delay change characteristics

“…One method to mitigate this requirement is to set a threshold for the amount of coupling required versus the driver strength to reduce the amount of simulations needed. Another method can be similar to that proposed in [12] to reduce the amount of SPICE simulations. However, the analytical method in [12] is only used for determining the peak noise voltage and the time in which it occurs.…”

“…Another method can be similar to that proposed in [12] to reduce the amount of SPICE simulations. However, the analytical method in [12] is only used for determining the peak noise voltage and the time in which it occurs. Furthermore, a wide range of models still need to be developed to cover arbitrary coupling cases as the authors in [12] pointed out.…”

“…However, the analytical method in [12] is only used for determining the peak noise voltage and the time in which it occurs. Furthermore, a wide range of models still need to be developed to cover arbitrary coupling cases as the authors in [12] pointed out. The extent of such a range of models is unknown for practical applications.…”

“…In [10], authors suggested other waveform shapes for both the victim without-noise signal and the noise signal. In [12], the authors also suggested using exponential type waveforms in the future, but the results in [12] were still based on waveform shapes in [10]. Figures 1 and 2 show the amount of improvement our proposed waveform shapes have in terms of error compared to the one proposed in [10].…”

“…The authors improved the efficiency of the above approach by using a more general analytical approach involving 2-pole RC models rather than SPICE simulations to obtain noise waveform [12]. As a result of that, multiple aggressors can be handled in the improved framework by lumping the coupling capacitance between an aggressor and the victim to the middle of the aggressor.…”