Method and apparatus for converting globally clock-gated circuits to locally clock-gated circuits

A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for converting globally clock-gated circuits to locally clock-gated circuits, said computer program product comprising:

• program code means for performing a timing analysis on an integrated circuit (IC) design to generate a slack time report for globally clock-gated circuits within said IC design;
• program code means for determining whether or not a globally clock-gated circuit is a don't touch circuit;
• program code means for determining, by utilizing a logic circuit netlist, a switching factor and a switching factor threshold, whether or not the globally clock-gated circuit should be converted to a locally clock-gated circuit:
• program code means for identifying one of said globally clock-gated circuits to be connected to a locally generated clock according to its slack time indicated in said slack time report;
• and
• program code means for disconnecting said identified globally clock-gated circuit from a global clock tree and connecting said identified globally clock-gated circuit to a locally generated clock having a clock delay comparable to its slack time indicated in said slack time report.

A computer system capable of converting globally clock-gated circuits to locally clock-gated circuits, said computer system comprising:

• means for performing a timing analysis on an integrated circuit (IC) design to generate a slack time report for globally clock-gated circuits within said IC design;
• means for determining whether or not a globally clock-gated circuit is a don't touch circuit;
• means for determining, by utilizing a logic circuit netlist, a switching factor and a switching factor threshold, whether or not the globally clock-gated circuit should be converted to a locally clock-gated circuit;
• means for identifying one of said globally clock-gated circuits to be connected to a locally generated clock according to its slack time indicated in said slack time report;
• and
• means for disconnecting said identified globally clock-gated circuit from a global clock tree and connecting said identified globally clock-gated circuit to a locally generated clock having a clock delay comparable to its slack time indicated in said slack time report.