Patent ID: 7617466

Claim:
A computer-implemented circuit conjunctive normal form generating method, comprising the steps of: reading, by a data processing device, a logic circuit and an information of an end point for exceptional timing paths in said logic circuit; outputting, by the data processing device, logic operation of a section from a start point traced from said end point to said end point in a conjunctive normal form, based on processing of the logic circuit and the information read in the reading step; setting, by the data processing device, a logic equivalent to a hazard to said end point and a net where exceptional timing signal exists, based on the logic operation of the section output in the outputting step; and setting either a logic value 0 or a logic value 1 for all signals which do not correspond to the exception timing signal, based on the logic equivalent to the hazard set to said end point and said net set that are set in the setting step, wherein outputting said logic operation in said conjunctive normal form comprises: a) assigning two numerals (ni, nj) to each net in said section b) adding said circuit conjunctive normal form setting a logic equivalent to ni′+nj (the apostrophe (′) indicates logic NOT) to each net for said end point; c) adding said circuit conjunctive normal form setting a logic equivalent to ni to each end point and each net where an exceptional timing signal is present; and d) performing steps a), b) and c) on all of said end points, wherein potential hazards of said logic circuit are obtained to determine potential faulty circuit operation of said logic circuit.