Speedpath repair in an integrated circuit

A method of implementing a circuit comprising:

• providing a first plurality of transistors of a first channel length disposed along a speedpath, the first plurality of transistors characterized by a first timing performance;
• providing a second plurality of transistors of a second channel length having an expected equivalent functionality as the first plurality of transistors and disposed in parallel with the first plurality of transistors along the speedpath, wherein the second channel length is different from the first channel length;
• and
• selectively replacing the first plurality of transistors with the second plurality of transistors in response to a determination that the first timing performance of the first plurality of transistors fails a timing requirement of the speedpath.

A circuit having a speedpath, comprising;

• first means for performing a function in the speedpath, wherein the first means comprises a first plurality transistors having channel lengths;
• second means for performing the function, wherein the second means comprises a second plurality of transistors, wherein each transistor of the second plurality of transistors has a corresponding transistor in the first plurality of transistors, and each transistor of the second plurality of transistors has a shorter channel length than its corresponding transistor;
• and
• replacement means for replacing the first means with the second means if the speedpath does not meet a speed requirement.