Electronic Design Automation

6.5. Timing Analysis

After correct logical functioning, the speed of an integrated circuit is one of the most important design characteristics. Timing optimization is thus an important aspect of logic synthesis. Any optimization system is only as good as the models that guide it, and as a result good timing optimization is entirely dependent on accurate timing analysis. For these reasons we spend a good deal of attention on techniques for accurate timing estimation of synchronous sequential circuits.

Accurate timing estimation relies on component delay calculation and circuit delay calculation. Component delay calculation is the method used for actually calculating the delay of individual components, such as gates and wires, within a circuit. ...