22/08/2025

How to analyze a timing report?

o   Path Summary:

o   Startpoint: Where the path begins (input port or flop clock pin).

o   Endpoint: Where the path ends (output port or flop data input pin).

o   Path Group:

o   Path Type: Setup, Hold, Recovery, Removal, Min Pulse Width, etc.

o   Slack:

o   Data Arrival Time Path: Details the delay contribution of each element along the data path:

o   Clock Network Delay (Launch): Latency from clock source to launch flop clock pin (relevant post-CTS).

o   Clock-to-Q Delay: Delay through the launch flop.

o   Logic Delay: Delay through each combinational cell (gate) on the path.

o   Net Delay: Delay through the interconnect wires connecting the cells (RC delay).

o   Incremental Delay & Path Delay: Cumulative delay at each stage.

o   Fanout – Load – Slew at each point (same to check in required time path )

o   Cell location – gives idea if cells are placed far away or not.

o   Data Required Time Path: Details the time budget available:

o   Clock Period: Target clock cycle time ( phase shift )

o   Clock Network Delay (Capture): Latency from clock source to capture flop clock pin (relevant post-CTS).

o   Clock Uncertainty: Skew + Jitter margins.

o   Library Setup/Hold Time: The intrinsic requirement of the capture flop.

o   CPPR/CRPR Adjustment: Pessimism removal credit applied (relevant in OCV modes post-CTS).

o   Cell/Net Details: Often shows input transition (slew), output capacitance (load), and specific delay values for each cell and net instance in the path.

o   Analysis - What to Look For:

o   Magnitude of Slack: How large is the violation (negative slack) or margin (positive slack)?

o   Dominant Delay Components: Is the delay dominated by cell delay (logic complexity) or net delay (long wires, high capacitance)?

o   Number of Logic Levels: How deep is the combinational logic path? Very deep paths are inherently harder to time.

o   Cell Types: Are slow (HVT) cells used on a critical setup path? Are very fast (LVT) cells causing hold issues? Are there unusually slow/fast library cells?

o   Net Characteristics: Are there very long nets? Nets with high capacitance or slow transition times?

o   Clock Path Skew (Post-CTS): What is the skew between launch and capture clock paths? Is it helping or hurting the specific check (setup/hold)?

o   Constraints: Are the constraints applied to this path correct (clock period, I/O delays, exceptions)? Is it accidentally a false or multicycle path?

o   Pre-Route vs. Post-Route Analysis Differences:

o   Pre-route – estimated RC, usually optimistic. So if any Net gives high delay, needs careful consideration

o   Post route, we have actual RC delay, actual crosstalk impact as well and hence violations may increase.

 

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