Timing performance analysis

• US 7,254,794 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burnley, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbowski; Leigh M.
• Application Number:
  US11/144,523
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 716/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/3312 Timing analysis

Abstract

Method to determine path timing to and from an embedded device is described. More particularly, clock-to-output delays, interconnects and interconnect logic delays, and setup and hold times for input and output paths from a microprocessor core and a memory controller are obtained and determined, as applicable. These times are assembled in a spreadsheet for associating with respective signals. Times for each of the signals are totaled to determine respective path delays for comparison with a target clock period.

Claims

1. A method for determining timing performance, comprising:

obtaining clock-to-output times for a processor core;

using static timing analysis to determine timing data for a memory controller;

obtaining setup and hold times from the timing data for the memory controller;

providing a programmatic representation of logic and interconnects for coupling the memory controller and the processor core;

simulating the programmatic representation of logic and interconnects to obtain delay times;

inputting the delay times, the setup and hold times and the clock-to-output times to a spreadsheet; and

determining path times from the spreadsheet.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing timing of at least one of the path times to a clock period.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the clock-to-output times are expressed in a Standard Delay Format.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inputting comprises associating a delay time of the delay times, a setup and hold time of the setup and hold times, and a clock-to-output time of the clock-to-output times to an output signal from the processor core.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the delay time, the setup and hold time and the clock-to-output time are totaled in the step of determining to provide a path time.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising comparing the path time to a clock period.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the memory controller and the processor core are to be part of a programmable logic device, wherein the processor core is to be embedded in the programmable logic device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the memory controller and the processor core are laid out according to different lithographic minimum dimensions.

9. A method for determining timing performance, comprising:

obtaining setup and hold times for a processor core;

using static timing analysis to determine timing data for a memory controller;

obtaining clock-to-output times from the timing data for the memory controller;

providing a programmatic representation of logic and interconnects for coupling the memory controller and the processor core;

simulating the programmatic representation of logic and interconnects to obtain delay times;

inputting the delay times, the setup and hold times and the clock-to-output times to a spreadsheet; and

determining path times from the spreadsheet.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising comparing timing of at least one of the path times to a clock period.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the clock-to-output times are expressed in a Standard Delay Format.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of inputting comprises associating a delay time of the delay times, a setup and hold time of the setup and hold times, and a clock-to-output time of the clock-to-output times to an output signal from the processor core.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the delay time, the setup and hold time and the clock-to-output time are totaled in the step of determining to provide a path time.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing the path time to a clock period.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the memory controller and the processor core are to be part of a programmable logic device, wherein the processor core is to be embedded in the programmable logic device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the memory controller and the processor core are laid out according to different lithographic minimum dimensions.