Configurable cell design using capacitive coupling for enhanced timing closure

A method for designing an integrated circuit that satisfies time constraints, the method comprising:

• generating an initial integrated circuit design using a cell library of component cells, wherein at least a first component cell in the initial integrated circuit design is part of a first subset of component cells having a same function and a same footprint;
• performing a timing analysis on the initial integrated circuit design;
• determining that the initial integrated circuit design does not satisfy the time constraints;
• generating a modified integrated circuit design by replacing the first component cell with a replacement component cell that (i) is part of the first subset of component cells and (ii) has a timing characteristic that enhances likelihood of the modified integrated circuit design satisfying the time constraints, wherein the timing characteristics of the first component cell and the replacement component cell differ based on different capacitive coupling;
• performing the timing analysis on the modified integrated circuit design;
• and
• determining whether the modified integrated circuit design satisfies the time constraints for the integrated circuit.