Patent ID: 8176454
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for a computing device to characterize signal propagation delay characteristics associated with a plurality of devices in an integrated circuit (IC) having a plurality of sequential element devices, combinatorial devices and interconnects interconnecting the sequential element devices and the combinatorial devices, the method for the computing device comprising: receiving a specification that identifies the devices in the IC; forming a plurality of groupings of the devices using the specification, wherein each grouping of the devices is associated with one of a plurality of sensitizable signal paths in the IC, wherein each sensitizable signal path comprises one or more interconnected sequential element devices; Forming one or more clusters of the devices to improve accuracy of a solution of a set of equations associated with delays of the sensitizable signal paths; receiving measurements of signal propagation delays responsive to two consecutive input vectors applied to the sequential element devices associated with the plurality of sensitizable signal paths; and solving the set of equations to determine the signal propagation delay characteristics of the plurality of devices based at least in part on the received measurements.