Patent ID: 7055121
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for designing an integrated circuit, the method comprising: providing a first library having a plurality of standard circuit cells; providing a second library having a plurality of substitute circuit cells wherein one or more substitute circuit cells correspond to one or more standard circuit cells and the one or more substitute circuit cells have at least one differing electrical characteristic than the corresponding one or more standard circuit cells; creating an initial circuit design using the plurality of standard circuit cells of the first library; identifying one or more non-critical timing paths in the initial circuit design, the non-critical timing paths including one or more standard circuit cells, wherein said identifying operation occurs after the operation of providing the second library; and providing for substituting the one or more standard circuit cells in at least one of the non-critical timing paths of the initial circuit design with one or more substitute circuit cells to form a modified integrated circuit design.