1. WHAT IS YOUR ANALYSIS IF HOLD IS VIOLATING WITH 100PS ?

If a hold violation of 100ps is detected, it means that the circuit is not meeting the
hold time constraint, which is the minimum amount of time that a signal must be
held stable after the clock edge before it can change. A hold violation of 100ps
indicates that the signal is changing before the hold time has expired.

There are several possible causes for a hold violation, including:

 Insufficient setup time: The signal may not have enough time to settle before
the clock edge, resulting in a hold violation.
 Clock skew: The clock signal may be arriving at different parts of the circuit at
different times, resulting in a hold violation.
 Incorrect timing constraints: The hold time constraint may not be set correctly
in the design.
 Power supply noise: Power supply noise can cause the signal to change before
the hold time has expired.
 Process variations: Manufacturing process variations can affect the timing of
the circuit, resulting in a hold violation.

To fix a hold violation, the designer can take several steps such as:

 Increase the setup time: This can be done by delaying the signal or by adding
additional flip-flops to the design.
 Balance clock skew: This can be done by using a clock distribution structure
that balances the skew or by using a multi-phase clock.
 Review timing constraints: The designer should review the timing constraints
and ensure that they are set correctly.
 Noise reduction: Power supply noise can be reduced by using a separate
power supply for the clock and by adding decoupling capacitors.
 Design for Variations: Design techniques such as statistical timing analysis, can
be used to account for process variations and ensure that the circuit meets its
timing constraints.

It's important to note that fixing a hold violation of 100ps may cause other timing
violations. Depending on the design, multiple iterations may be needed to meet the
timing constraints.

2. what is your analysis if 20k hold paths are violated

If 20,000 hold paths are violated in a VLSI integrated circuit design, it could indicate a
number of issues.
  Timing violations: Hold violation occurs when the data is not available on time
at a flip-flop input, this could be caused by slow logic, long interconnects or a
mis-matched clock frequency.
 Clock domain crossing issues: If the data is crossing from one clock domain to
another, it is important that the data is stable for a certain time period called
setup and hold time to avoid the hold violation.
 Design errors: If the hold paths are violated, it could be caused by errors in the
design of the integrated circuit, such as incorrect placement of flip-flops or
incorrect routing of interconnects.

It is important to analyze the root cause of the hold path violation and address it
accordingly. This could include re-designing the logic, adjusting the clock
frequencies, or optimizing the placement and routing of the circuit.

In summary, if 20,000 hold paths are violated in a VLSI design, it could be a indication
of timing issues, clock domain crossing problems or design errors. It is important to
investigate the root cause of the issue and take appropriate actions to fix it.
3. how was the timing in synthesis and before floorplan

Timing analysis is an important step in the VLSI design flow, and it is

performed at several stages of the design process, including synthesis and
before floorplan.

During synthesis, the design is translated from a high-level description

(such as a behavioral Verilog or VHDL description) into a gate-level netlist.
This process includes logic optimization, technology mapping, and clock
tree synthesis. Timing analysis is performed during synthesis to ensure that
the design meets the required timing constraints, such as setup and hold
times. This can be done using a static timing analysis (STA) tool, which
analyzes the timing of the design based on the input delays and output
loads of the gates in the netlist.

Before floorplan, the design is divided into blocks, and a floorplan is

created. Floorplanning is the process of arranging the blocks in a way that
minimizes the total wirelength and improves the overall performance of the
design. During floorplan, the designers can also perform timing closure by
analyzing the impact of the physical layout on the timing of the design. This
can be done using a post-layout timing analysis tool, which takes into
account the physical layout of the design and the parasitic effects of the
interconnects.
In summary, timing analysis is performed during synthesis to ensure that
the design meets the required timing constraints, and before floorplan to
analyze the impact of the physical layout on the timing of the design. This
can be done using static timing analysis and post-layout timing analysis
tools.
4. how you will reduce if congestion is due to H -tracks

If congestion is due to H-tracks (horizontal metal layers) in a VLSI integrated circuit

design, there are several methods that can be used to reduce it:

 Reroute tracks: By rerouting the tracks, you can avoid congestion and improve
the overall performance of the design. This can be done manually or
automatically using routing tools.
 Increase number of metal layers: adding additional metal layers will increase
the routing resources and decrease congestion.
 Decrease the width of the tracks: Decreasing the width of the tracks will
reduce the congestion, but it can also decrease the performance of the
design.
 Use of vias: Vias can be used to connect different metal layers and can help to
reduce congestion on the H-tracks.
 Optimize the placement of the blocks: By optimizing the placement of the
blocks in the design, you can reduce the length of the tracks and improve the
overall performance of the design.
 Use of multi-track routing: instead of routing the signals one track at a time,
you can use multi-track routing to route multiple signals on the same track,
which can help to reduce congestion.

In summary, there are several methods that can be used to reduce congestion due to
H-tracks in VLSI integrated circuit design, such as rerouting tracks, increasing the
number of metal layers, decreasing the width of the tracks, using vias, optimizing the
placement of the blocks and using multi-track routing.
5. timing is good at cts but violating in routing what could be the reason

If the timing is good at Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS) stage but violating during routing,
there could be several reasons for this:

 Routing congestion: The routing congestion can cause delays in the

interconnects and result in timing violations. This can be caused by a lack of
routing resources, such as not enough metal layers or tracks.
 Parasitic effects: The parasitic effects of the interconnects, such as resistance
and capacitance, can cause delays and result in timing violations. These effects
 are not considered during CTS and are taken into account during post-layout
timing analysis.
 Clock skew: Clock skew is the difference in arrival time of the clock signal at
different flip-flops, this can cause hold violations.
 Power distribution: Power distribution network can cause delay and result in
timing violations.
 Improper placement: Improper placement of the blocks can result in longer
interconnects and cause timing violations.
 Timing constraints: Timing constraints may not be set correctly and can cause
timing violations during routing.

It is important to investigate and identify the root cause of the timing violations
during routing, and take appropriate actions to fix it. This could include re-routing
the interconnects, optimizing the placement of the blocks, modifying the power
distribution network, or adjusting the timing constraints.

In summary, if timing is good at CTS but violating during routing, it could be caused
by routing congestion, parasitic effects, clock skew, power distribution, improper
placement and timing constraints.
6. what information contain spef file

A SPEF (Standard Parasitic Exchange Format) file contains information about the
parasitic elements of an integrated circuit (IC) design, such as the resistance and
capacitance of the interconnects. A SPEF file is used for post-layout parasitic
extraction and timing analysis of the IC.

A SPEF file typically contains the following information:

 Netlist information: The netlist information defines the topology of the circuit,
including the connectivity of the gates and interconnects.
 Parasitic information: The parasitic information includes the resistance and
capacitance of the interconnects, as well as the parasitic capacitance of the
gates and other components.
 Timing information: The timing information includes the arrival and required
times of the signals, as well as the setup and hold times of the flip-flops.
 Power information: The power information includes the power and ground
connections of the IC, as well as the power distribution network.
 Physical information: The physical information includes the layout of the IC,
including the location and size of the gates, interconnects, and other
components.
 Environment information: The environment information includes the process
and temperature conditions under which the IC will operate.
SPEF file is a standard format for parasitic extraction, and it is supported by most
parasitic extraction tools. It allows for the exchange of parasitic information between
different tools and can be used for timing analysis and optimization.

In summary, a SPEF file contains information about the parasitic elements of an

integrated circuit design, such as the resistance and capacitance of the interconnects,
timing information, power information, physical information, and environment
information. It can be used for post-layout parasitic extraction and timing analysis of
the IC.
7. what if there is congestion in routing ? what could be the reason

If there is congestion in routing in a VLSI integrated circuit design, there could be

several reasons for this:

 Lack of routing resources: There may not be enough metal layers or tracks
available to route all of the signals in the design, causing congestion.
 Improper placement of blocks: Improper placement of the blocks can result in
longer interconnects and cause congestion.
 High fan-out: High fan-out of a gate can cause congestion in the routing.
 High signal count: High signal count can cause congestion in the routing.
 Power distribution: Power distribution network can cause congestion in the
routing.
 Timing constraints: Timing constraints may not be set correctly and can cause
congestion during routing.
 Density of the design: high density of the design can cause congestion in the
routing.

It is important to investigate and identify the root cause of the congestion, and take
appropriate actions to fix it. This could include re-routing the interconnects,
optimizing the placement of the blocks, modifying the power distribution network,
adjusting the timing constraints, reducing fan-out, or reducing signal count.

In summary, congestion in routing in a VLSI design can be caused by lack of routing

resources, improper placement of blocks, high fan-out, high signal count, power
distribution, timing constraints, and high density of the design.
8. target skew was local skew or global skew

In VLSI integrated circuit design, skew is the difference in arrival time of a clock signal
at different flip-flops. There are two types of skew:

 Local skew: Local skew is the difference in arrival time of the clock signal at
different flip-flops within the same clock domain.
 Global skew: Global skew is the difference in arrival time of the clock signal at
different flip-flops across different clock domains.
When setting target skew, it is important to consider the type of skew that is being
targeted. If the target skew is set for local skew, it means that the designer is trying
to minimize the difference in arrival time of the clock signal at different flip-flops
within the same clock domain. On the other hand, if the target skew is set for global
skew, it means that the designer is trying to minimize the difference in arrival time of
the clock signal at different flip-flops across different clock domains.

Targeting local skew is generally more critical than targeting global skew as it can
cause hold violations, while global skew can cause setup violation.

In summary, target skew can be set for local skew or global skew, depending on the
designer's requirements. Local skew is the difference in arrival time of the clock
signal at different flip-flops within the same clock domain, while global skew is the
difference in arrival time of the clock signal at different flip-flops across different
clock domains.
9. what are rules in 5nm ?

The 5nm node is the current state-of-the-art technology in the semiconductor

industry, and it involves the use of very small transistors and other components. As a
result, there are several rules that must be followed when designing integrated
circuits at the 5nm node. Some of these rules include:

 Minimum feature size: The minimum feature size for transistors and other
components is on the order of a few nanometers. This means that the width
and length of transistors and interconnects must be smaller than this size.
 Density: The density of the design must be very high, with a large number of
transistors and other components packed into a small area.
 Power and voltage: The power and voltage requirements of the design must
be very low to reduce power consumption and heat dissipation.
 Signal integrity: The signal integrity of the design must be maintained at such
small feature sizes, which requires special attention to the design of the
interconnects and power distribution network.
 Temperature: Temperature variations must be considered as it can affect the
performance of the device.
 Variations: Variations in manufacturing process must be considered as it can
affect the performance of the device.
 Lithography: Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is used to create the small
feature sizes required at the 5nm node, which is more complex and expensive
than traditional lithography techniques.
 Design for Manufacturability (DFM): DFM techniques must be used to ensure
that the design can be manufactured with the desired yield and performance.
In summary, the rules for designing integrated circuits at the 5nm node include
minimum feature size, density, power and voltage, signal integrity, temperature,
variations, lithography and DFM.
10. is constraints same from synthesis to sta

The constraints used during synthesis and static timing analysis (STA) are generally
different.

During synthesis, the constraints define the design requirements such as the
functionality of the design, area, and power consumption. These constraints are used
to guide the synthesis tool to generate an optimized gate-level netlist that meets
these requirements.

During STA, the constraints define the timing requirements of the design, such as the
maximum delay and the maximum clock frequency. These constraints are used to
guide the STA tool to analyze the timing of the design and ensure that it meets these
requirements.

However, some of the constraints such as maximum power consumption and

maximum temperature can be used in both synthesis and STA.

In summary, the constraints used during synthesis and STA are generally different,
with synthesis constraints focusing on the design requirements such as functionality,
area, and power consumption and STA constraints focusing on timing requirements
such as maximum delay and maximum clock frequency. However, some of the
constraints can be used in both stages.
11. what are the reasons for false path and ignore pin

In VLSI integrated circuit design, false paths and ignore pins are used to improve the
accuracy of static timing analysis (STA) by excluding certain paths or pins from the
analysis.

A false path is a path that is not intended to be used in normal operation of the
design, but is included in the STA analysis due to limitations in the timing analysis
tool. False paths can be caused by various reasons, such as:

 Clock domain crossing: A path that crosses from one clock domain to another
may not be used in normal operation, but is included in the STA analysis.
 Unused logic: A path that includes unused logic may not be used in normal
operation, but is included in the STA analysis.
 Redundant logic: A path that includes redundant logic, such as a multiplexer
with only one input enabled, may not be used in normal operation, but is
included in the STA analysis.
An ignore pin is a pin that is not intended to be used in normal operation of the
design, but is included in the STA analysis due to limitations in the timing analysis
tool. Ignore pins can be caused by various reasons, such as:

 Power or ground pins: Power or ground pins may not be

12. what happens if inputs are floating?

If inputs of a digital circuit are floating, it means that they are not connected to a
valid logical level (high or low), and are instead in an undefined state. This can cause
several issues in the circuit:

 Logic errors: A floating input can cause the circuit to produce incorrect or
unexpected outputs, leading to logic errors.
 Timing issues: A floating input can cause the circuit to produce outputs that
change over time, leading to timing errors.
 Power consumption: A floating input can cause the circuit to consume more
power than it would when in a defined state.
 Noise: A floating input can cause the circuit to generate noise, which can
interfere with other parts of the circuit.
 Reliability: A floating input can cause the circuit to be unreliable, as it may
produce different outputs depending on the environment or manufacturing
process.

It is important to ensure that all inputs of a digital circuit are connected to valid
logical levels to avoid these issues. This can be done by using pull-up or pull-down
resistors, or by using a default value in the design.

In summary, if inputs of a digital circuit are floating, it means that they are not
connected to a valid logical level and are in an undefined state. This can cause logic
errors, timing issues, power consumption, noise and reliability problems.
13. how you will define the half cycle path

A half-cycle path in VLSI integrated circuit design is a path that is active for only half
of a clock cycle. This type of path is typically used to implement synchronous designs
where data is only valid for half of a clock cycle.

To define a half-cycle path, the following steps can be taken:

Identify the flip-flops: Identify the flip-flops that are part of the half-cycle path. This
will typically include the flip-flop where the data is captured and the flip-flop where
the data is used.
Define the clock signal: Define the clock signal that is used to control the flip-
flops on the half-cycle path. This clock signal will be used to determine the active
and inactive periods of the path.
 Define the data signal: Define the data signal that is being captured and used by
the flip-flops on the half-cycle path.
Define the half-cycle constraint: Define a timing constraint that limits the path to
half of a clock cycle. This can be done using the setup and hold time constraint in
the STA tool.
Perform timing analysis: Use the STA tool to perform timing analysis on the half-
cycle path, to ensure that the timing constraint is met.

In summary, to define a half-cycle path, identify the flip-flops that are

14. how do we get the sdf file from where you will get

A Standard Delay Format (SDF) file is a file that contains timing information for an
integrated circuit (IC) design. It is typically generated by a static timing analysis (STA)
tool and can be used by other tools, such as a timing-driven place-and-route tool, to
ensure that the timing requirements of the design are met.

The SDF file can be obtained in the following ways:

1. Generating using STA tool: Most of the STA tools have the capability to
generate SDF file. After running the STA, the tool will output the SDF file which
contains the timing information for the design.
2. Post-layout parasitic extraction: After physical design is done, post-layout
parasitic extraction tool can be used to extract the parasitics from the layout
and generate an SDF file.
3. Generating from SPEF file: SDF file can also be generated from a Standard
Parasitic Exchange Format (SPEF) file, which contains parasitic information for
the design.

In summary, there are several ways to obtain an SDF file for an IC design, such as
generating it using an STA tool, obtaining it from post-layout parasitic extraction, or
generating it from a SPEF file. The SDF file contains timing information that can be
used by other tools to ensure that the timing requirements of the design are met.
15. what happens if there is no n- well continuity

In a VLSI integrated circuit design, an n-well is a region of the semiconductor

substrate that is doped with a specific type of impurity (such as phosphorus or
arsenic) to create a p-type region. N-well continuity refers to the continuity of the n-
well region throughout the design, ensuring that the n-well is not broken or
disconnected.

If there is no n-well continuity in a design, it can lead to several issues:

  Leakage current: N-well continuity is important for maintaining the isolation
between the n-well region and the substrate, which helps to prevent leakage
current.
 Reliability: Lack of n-well continuity can lead to reliability issues, as the
electrical characteristics of the n-well region may change due to the
disconnection.
 Manufacturing issues: Lack of n-well continuity can cause issues during the
manufacturing process, such as increased difficulty in forming the n-well
region or increased susceptibility to defects.
 Noise: Lack of n-well continuity can cause noise, which can interfere with other
parts of the circuit.

To ensure n-well continuity, designers should check the design layout for any
disconnections in the n-well region and make sure that the n-well region is
connected throughout the design.

In summary, no n-well continuity in a VLSI design can cause leakage current,

reliability issues, manufacturing issues and noise. It is important to ensure n-well
continuity to avoid these issues by checking the design layout for any disconnections
in the n-well region and making sure that the n-well region is connected throughout
the design.
16. how you will define multi cycle path

A multi-cycle path in VLSI integrated circuit design is a path that takes more than
one clock cycle to propagate. This type of path is typically used to implement
complex synchronous designs where data takes more than one clock cycle to
propagate.

To define a multi-cycle path, the following steps can be taken:

1. Identify the flip-flops: Identify the flip-flops that are part of the multi-cycle
path. This will typically include the flip-flop where the data is captured and the
flip-flop where the data is used.
2. Define the clock signal: Define the clock signal that is used to control the flip-
flops on the multi-cycle path. This clock signal will be used to determine the
active and inactive periods of the path.
3. Define the data signal: Define the data signal that is being captured and used
by the flip-flops on the multi-cycle path.
4. Define the multi-cycle constraint: Define a timing constraint that limits the
path to multiple clock cycles. This can be done using the setup and hold time
constraint in the STA tool.
5. Perform timing analysis: Use the STA tool to perform timing analysis on the
multi-cycle path, to ensure that the timing constraint is met.
In summary, to define a multi-cycle path, identify the flip-flops that are part of the
path, define the clock signal and data signal, define a timing constraint that limits the
path to multiple clock cycles, and perform timing analysis using an STA tool to
ensure that the timing constraint is met.
17. how timing is analyzed in sta

Static timing analysis (STA) is a method of analyzing the timing characteristics of a

digital circuit to ensure that it meets the timing constraints specified in the design.
The STA tool uses the description of the design (usually in the form of a netlist) and a
set of timing constraints (specified in a timing file) to perform the analysis.

The STA process typically includes the following steps:

1. Path selection: The STA tool identifies all the timing-critical paths in the
design, which are the paths that have the tightest timing constraints.
2. Timing calculations: The STA tool calculates the delay of each timing-critical
path based on the characteristics of the components in the path and the
interconnect delays.
3. Constraint checking: The STA tool compares the calculated delays to the
specified timing constraints to determine if any violations occur.
4. Report generation: The STA tool generates a report that shows the results of
the analysis, including any timing violations that were found.

The report generated by STA tool is very important as it provides the designer with
information about the paths that are causing the violation, and the designer can then
investigate and make changes to the design to fix the issue.
18. how setup and hold violation is analzed in sta

In Static Timing Analysis (STA), setup and hold violations are analyzed by checking
the timing constraints for data input to a flip-flop or a latch.

Setup time violation: occurs when the data signal to the flip-flop or latch is not
stable for a sufficient amount of time before the clock edge. The STA tool will
check the setup time constraint specified in the timing file and compare it to the
calculated delay from the data input to the clock edge. If the calculated delay is
less than the specified constraint, a setup time violation is reported.

Hold time violation: occurs when the data signal to the flip-flop or latch is not
stable for a sufficient amount of time after the clock edge. The STA tool will check
the hold time constraint specified in the timing file and compare it to the
calculated delay from the clock edge to the next transition of the data input. If the
calculated delay is less than the specified constraint, a hold time violation is
reported.
 The STA report will provide details on the specific path or paths that are causing
the violation and the specific flip-flop or latch that is affected. The designer can
then investigate and make changes to the design to fix the issue, for example by
adjusting the clock period or adjusting the logic in the path to increase the delay.
19. how to change the lvt to hvt or hvt to lvt what was the command used in ic compiler

In IC (Integrated Circuit) design, changing the voltage threshold (VT) of a device from
low VT (LVT) to high VT (HVT) or vice versa can be done using a technology library
file in the IC compiler. The technology library file contains information about the
devices available in the process technology, including their VT values.

The command used to change the VT of a device in IC compiler will depend on the
specific implementation of the compiler being used. However, in general, the process
of changing the VT of a device involves the following steps:

1. Modify the technology library file to specify the desired VT value for the
device.
2. Re-compile the library to create a new library file with the updated VT values.
3. Re-run the synthesis and place-and-route (P&R) flows to update the design
with the new library.

It's important to note that changing the VT of a device can have a significant impact
on the performance, power consumption, and area of a design, and it's a trade-off
that should be carefully considered. Also, changing the VT requires re-verification of
the design with the new VT to make sure that the design still meets its timing, power
and area constraints.
20. what is the commad to change the lvt to hvt or vice vera

The command to change the voltage threshold (VT) of a device from low VT (LVT)
to high VT (HVT) or vice versa in IC compiler will depend on the specific
implementation of the compiler being used.

In Synopsys IC Compiler, it's done by modifying the technology library file(.db)

and re-compiling the library. The technology library file contains information
about the devices available in the process technology, including their VT values.

It's important to note that changing the VT of a device can have a significant
impact on the performance, power consumption, and area of a design, and it's a
trade-off that should be carefully considered. Also, changing the VT requires re-
verification of the design with the new VT to make sure that the design still meets
its timing, power and area constraints.
It's done by using the following command:

ic_shell
read_lib <path to library file>.db
change_lvt_hvt -hvt
write_lib -format db <path to new library file>.db

This command reads the library file, changes the lvt to hvt and writes a new library
file.

Note that this is just an example and the commands may vary depending on the
specific implementation of the compiler you are using. Consult the documentation
of the specific IC compiler you are using for more information on how to change
the VT of a device.