Timing paths

The most important element of a design in Static Timing Analysis is a timing path. A design is broken down into a set of timing paths. Each timing path is analyzed by a set of timing equations for possible violations of timing. A timing path can be defined as flow of timing information (such as delay, transition etc.) through a set of elements which can be accumulated and verified against a specified set of rules.

 A timing path can be supposed to be consisting of two sub-paths - a reference path through which reference signal traverses and a constrained path through which constrained signal traverses. Both of these essentially originate from same source (or have a definite relationship at their respective sources). At the terminal end of both, there is a relationship governing the arrival of constrained signal to the arrival of reference signal. Depending upon the type of reference signal and constrained signal, the type of elements encountered by these and the check that is formed between the two, we govern the type of path. For instance, in a reg-to-reg setup path, the reference signal is clock, constrained signal is data launched from a clock and traversing through a flip-flop and the check that is formed between the two signals is a setup check at a flip-flop as the endpoint.

Figure 1: Generic timing path in STA

Figure 1 above shows a generic timing path. The elements of the path are not shown individually. The path that is common among constrained signal and reference signal is termed as common path.

Based upon type of check being formed between constrained signal and reference signal, there are commonly two types of paths that are formed: max path/setup check path and hold check path/min path.

Max/setup check path: In this kind of path, the earliest arrival of reference signal and latest arrival of constrained signal is considered. The kind of check is known as setup check in most of the cases. And the type of path is called setup path/max path.

Min/hold check path: In this kind of paths, the earliest arrival of constrained signal and the latest arrival of reference signal is considered. The kind of check is known as hold check in most of the cases. And the type of path is called hold path/min path.

Let us move to the commonly perceived understanding of a timing path by taking an example of a reg-to-reg path. Figure 1 below shows an example of a timing path, which starts from a flip-flop and ends at a flip-flop.

Figure 2: Components of a reg-to-reg path

The above timing path (or any timing path, in general), has following components:

Startpoint: The element from which the data gets launched is known as startpoint. In general, it can be a sequential element (latch, flip-flop) or an input port. In case it is a flip-flop, the clock pin of the flip-flop is counted as the startpoint of timing path. For point-to-point paths, it can also be a combinational input or output pin.

Endpoint: The element at which timing path ends is called the endpoint. It can be data pin of flip-flop or an output port. For point-to-point paths, it can also be a combinational input or output pin.

Clock: Most of the timing paths are constrained by a clock signal, which clocks both startpoint and endpoint. The properties of the clock signal, such as clock period, jitter etc are defined in timing constraints.

Launch clock path: It refers to the path traversed by clock signal from clock source to the startpoint.

Capture clock path: It refers to the path traversed by clock signal from clock source to the endpoint.

Data path: It refers to the path traversed by data signal from starptoint to endpoint.

In the above example, launch clock path and data path together constitute constrained signal path and capture clock path constitutes reference signal path.