Voltage and frequency balancing at nominal point

• US 10,222,850 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Foreman, Eric A., Shuma, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bowers, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US15/286,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20180101211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 716108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/08 Probabilistic or stochastic CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/06 Power analysis or power optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/12 Timing analysis or timing optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/3312 Timing analysis

Abstract

In an approach for determining voltage and frequency pairs, the computer identifies an integrated circuit design. The computer identifies a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design. The computer identifies at least a nominal voltage, a nominal clock signal, and a voltage range associated with the integrated circuit design. The computer receives a number n that defines the number of at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range. The computer analyzes the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range. The computer calculates a nominal slack. The computer calculates one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack. The computer provides a report based on the calculated one or more clock periods.

Claims

1. A method for determining voltage and frequency pairs, the method comprising:

computer processors identifying an integrated circuit design;

the computer processors identifying a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design;

the computer processors identifying at least a nominal voltage, a nominal clock signal, and a voltage range associated with the integrated circuit design;

the computer processors receiving a number n that defines the number of at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range;

the computer processors analyzing the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range;

the computer processors calculating a nominal slack;

the computer processors calculating one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack;

the computer processors providing a report based on the calculated one or more clock periods; and

the computer processors manufacturing an integrated circuit based upon an optimized integrated circuit design using an optimized voltage and frequency pairing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises:

the computer processors performing a single statistical static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range, wherein the single statistical static timing analysis calculates voltage sensitivity via finite differencing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises:

the computer processors performing a multi-corner static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for the identified at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein performing a multi-corner static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for the identified at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises:

the computer processors calculating a timing at a first voltage point and a timing second voltage point; and

the computer processors calculating a sensitivity to voltage that is a difference between the timing at the first voltage point and the timing at a second voltage point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack further comprises:

the computer processors solving a slack equation for a clock period; and

the computer processors calculating the clock period for each number n by inserting each calculated voltage for each number n into the solved slack equation for the clock period.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein performing the single statistical static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n that provides a finite difference for each number n for the identified at least voltage/process pair further comprises:

the computer processors creating a canonical variability of frequency dependent tests, wherein the clock period and voltage are parameterized.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer processors optimizing a voltage and frequency pairing for a best power-performance balance, wherein the voltage and frequency pairing meets a maximum power and a minimum frequency.

8. A computer program product for determining voltage and frequency pairs, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to identify an integrated circuit design;

program instructions to identify a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design;

program instructions to identify at least a nominal voltage, a nominal clock signal, and a voltage range associated with the integrated circuit design;

program instructions to receive a number n that defines the number of at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range;

program instructions to analyze the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range;

program instructions to calculate a nominal slack;

program instructions to calculate one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack;

program instructions to provide a report based on the calculated one or more clock periods; and

program instructions to manufacture an integrated circuit based upon an optimized integrated circuit design using an optimized voltage and frequency pairing.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein to analyze the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

perform a single statistical static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range, wherein the single statistical static timing analysis calculates voltage sensitivity via finite differencing.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein to analyze the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

perform a multi-corner static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for the identified at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein performing a multi-corner static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for the identified at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

calculate a timing at a first voltage point and a timing second voltage point; and

calculate a sensitivity to voltage that is a difference between the timing at the first voltage point and the timing at a second voltage point.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein to calculate one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

solve a slack equation for a clock period; and

calculate the clock period for each number n by inserting each calculated voltage for each number n into the solved slack equation for the clock period.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein to perform the single statistical static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n that provides a finite difference for each number n for the identified at least voltage/process pair further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

create a canonical variability of frequency dependent tests, wherein the clock period and voltage are parameterized.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

optimize a voltage and frequency pairing for a best power-performance balance, wherein the voltage and frequency pairing meets a maximum power and a minimum frequency.

15. A computer system for determining voltage and frequency pairs, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to identify an integrated circuit design;

program instructions to identify a timing model associated with the identified integrated circuit design;

program instructions to identify at least a nominal voltage, a nominal clock signal, and a voltage range associated with the integrated circuit design;

program instructions to receive a number n that defines the number of at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range;

program instructions to analyze the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range;

program instructions to calculate a nominal slack;

program instructions to calculate one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack;

program instructions to provide a report based on the calculated one or more clock periods; and

program instructions to manufacture an integrated circuit based upon an optimized integrated circuit design using an optimized voltage and frequency pairing.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein to analyze the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

perform a single statistical static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range, wherein the single statistical static timing analysis calculates voltage sensitivity via finite differencing.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein to analyze the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

perform a multi-corner static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for the identified at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein performing a multi-corner static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n for each number n for the identified at least one alternate voltage within the voltage range further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

calculate a timing at a first voltage point and a timing second voltage point; and

calculate a sensitivity to voltage that is a difference between the timing at the first voltage point and the timing at a second voltage point.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein to calculate one or more clock periods based on the calculated nominal slack further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

solve a slack equation for a clock period; and

calculate the clock period for each number n by inserting each calculated voltage for each number n into the solved slack equation for the clock period.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein to perform the single statistical static timing analysis for the identified integrated circuit based on the received number n that provides a finite difference for each number n for the identified at least voltage/process pair further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to:

create a canonical variability of frequency dependent tests, wherein the clock period and voltage are parameterized.