Novel low overhead hold-violation fixing solution using metal-programable cells
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsAnimesh Datta, Qi Ye, Chih-Lung Kao
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Abstract
Techniques for fixing hold violations using metal-programmable cells are described herein. In one embodiment, a system comprises a first flip-flop, a second flip-flop, and a data path between the first and second flip-flops. The system further comprises a metal-programmable cell connected to the data path, wherein the metal-programmable cell is programmed to implement at least one capacitor to add a capacitive load to the data path. The capacitive load adds delay to the data path that prevents a hold violation at one of the first and second flip-flops.
Claims28
A system, comprising:
- a first flip-flop;
- a second flip-flop;
- a data path between the first and second flip-flops;
- and
- a metal-programmable cell connected to the data path, wherein the metal-programmable cell is programmed to implement at least one capacitor to add a capacitive load to the data path.
A method for delaying a signal, the method comprising:
- sending the signal from a first flip-flop to a second flip-flop along a data path between the first and second flip-flops;
- and
- delaying the signal on the data path by a predetermined amount using a metal-programmable cell, wherein the metal-programmable cell is programmed to implement at least one capacitor, and the at least one capacitor adds a capacitive load to the data path that delays the signal by the predetermined amount.
A apparatus for delaying a signal, the apparatus comprising:
- means for sending the signal from a first flip-flop to a second flip-flop along a data path between the first and second flip-flops;
- and
- means for delaying the signal on the data path by a predetermined amount by adding a capacitive load to the data path that delays the signal by the predetermined amount.
A method for fixing a hold violation at a flip-flop, the method comprising:
- determining an amount of delay needed on a data path to fix the hold violation;
- determining a capacitive load based on the determined amount of delay;
- programming a metal-programmable cell to implement at least one capacitor to provide the determined capacitive load;
- and
- connecting the metal-programmable cell to the data path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.