Gate--Level Statistical Timing Analysis: Exact Solutions, Approximations and Algorithms

In this paper, the Statistical Static Timing Analysis (SSTA) is considered within the block--based approach. The statistical model of the logic gate delay propagation is systematically studied and the exact analytical solution is obtained, which is strongly non-Gaussian. The procedure of handling such (non-Gaussian) distributions is described and the corresponding algorithm for the critical path delay is outlined. Finally, the proposed approach is tested and compared with Monte Carlo simulations.