Robust Elmore delay models suitable for full chip timing verification of a 600 MHz CMOS microprocessor

• Main Authors: Nassif, Nevine, Desai, Madhav P, Hall, Dale H
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0738-100X
• DOI: 10.1145/277044.277104

In this paper we introduce a method for computing the Elmore delay of MOS circuits which relies on a model of the capacitance of MOS devices and a model of the Elmore delay of individual MOS devices. The resistance of a device is not explicitly modelled. The Elmore models are used to compute the Elmore delay and the 50% point delay of CMOS circuits in a static timing verifier. Elmore delays computed with these models fall within 10% of SPICE and can be computed thousands of times faster than if computed using SPICE. These models were used to verify critical paths during the design of a 600 MHz microprocessor.