Timing analysis method, timing analysis program, and timing analysis tool

A timing analysis method to perform a verification of the propagation timing of two signals between signal paths, comprising the steps of:

• (a) estimating, from operating information, the number of virtual circuit stages of a signal path;
• (b) obtaining, with respect to a delay random variation, a random variation coefficient in a first severization operating condition according to a predetermined basic variation coefficient and the estimated number of virtual circuit stages;
• (c) obtaining, based on the random variation coefficient, a gate variation coefficient of a gate circuit forming the signal path in a second severization operating condition;
• and
• (d) performing, based on the gate variation coefficient, a timing analysis.

A timing analysis program to perform a verification of the propagation timing of two signals between signal paths, comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a delay value of a signal propagating through a signal path selected as a candidate for timing analysis;
• (b) obtaining, with respect to the delay value's random variation amount, a random variation amount corresponding to the number of gate circuit stages forming the signal path;
• (c) obtaining, based on the delay value and the random variation amount, a most severe variation amount between the two signals in a most severe operating condition;
• (d) obtaining a respective most severe variation coefficient for each of the signals by allocation of the most severe variation amount to the two signals according to the most severe operating condition;
• (e) allocating, based on the most severe variation coefficient, a respective individual variation coefficient for each of the gate circuits;
• and
• (f) performing, based on the individual variation coefficient, a timing analysis.

A timing analysis program to perform a verification of the propagation timing of two signals between signal paths, comprising the steps of:

• (a) estimating, from operating information, the number of virtual circuit stages of a signal path;
• (b) obtaining, with respect to a delay random variation, a random variation coefficient in a first severization operating condition according to a predetermined basic variation coefficient and the estimated number of virtual circuit stages;
• (c) obtaining, based on the random variation coefficient, a gate variation coefficient of a gate circuit forming the signal path in a second severization operating condition;
• and
• (d) performing, based on the gate variation coefficient, a timing analysis.

A timing analysis tool to perform a verification of the propagation timing of two signals between signal paths, comprising:

• (a) a delay arithmetic unit for obtaining a delay value of a signal propagating through a signal path selected as a candidate for timing analysis;
• (b) a random variation arithmetic unit for obtaining, with respect to the delay value's random variation amount, a random variation amount corresponding to the number of gate circuit stages forming the signal path;
• (c) a most severe variation amount arithmetic unit for obtaining, based on the delay value and the random variation amount, a most severe variation amount between the two signals in a most severe operating condition;
• (d) a most severe variation coefficient arithmetic unit for obtaining a respective most severe variation coefficient for each of the signals by allocation of the most severe variation amount to the two signals according to the most severe operating condition;
• (e) an individual variation coefficient allocation unit for allocating, based on the most severe variation coefficient, an individual variation coefficient for each of the gate circuits;
• and
• (f) an analysis unit for performing, based on the individual variation coefficient, a timing analysis.

A timing analysis tool to perform a verification of the propagation timing of two signals between signal paths, comprising:

• (a) a virtual stage count arithmetic unit for estimating, from operating information, the number of virtual circuit stages of a signal path;
• (b) a random variation coefficient arithmetic unit for obtaining, with respect to a delay random variation, a random variation coefficient in a first severization operating condition according to a predetermined basic variation coefficient and the estimated number of virtual circuit stages;
• (c) a gate variation coefficient arithmetic unit for obtaining, based on the random variation coefficient, a gate variation coefficient of a gate circuit forming the signal path in a second severization operating condition;
• and
• (d) an analysis unit for performing, based on the gate variation coefficient, a timing analysis.