[Encounter] How to obtain clock frequency of core

Discussion in 'Cadence' started by Pasacco, Feb 10, 2008.

  1. Pasacco

    Pasacco Guest

    Dear

    As a newbie, my goal is to obtain clock frequency of the "core
    design", after routing, in SOC Encounter 6.2.

    My procedure was: Import -> Specify floorplaning -> Power ring and
    stripes -> Specify clock tree -> Place -> Route -> Timing optimize.

    When I tried to analyze timing, following result was obtained:

    +--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------
    +---------
    | Setup mode | all | reg2reg | in2reg | reg2out |
    +--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------
    +---------
    | WNS (ns): | -0.244 | -0.244 | 1.329 | N/A |
    | TNS (ns): | -15.52 | -15.520 | 0.000 | N/A |
    | Violating Paths:| 208 | 208 | 0 | N/A |
    | All Paths: | 5016 | 2172 | 3288 | N/A |
    +--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------
    +---------

    +--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------
    +---------
    | Hold mode | all | reg2reg | in2reg | reg2out |
    +--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------
    +---------
    | WNS (ns): | -2.099 | -0.001 | -2.099 | N/A |
    | TNS (ns): | -5187.8 | -0.001 | -5187.8 | N/A |
    | Violating Paths:| 3097 | 1 | 3096 | N/A |
    | All Paths: | 5016 | 2172 | 3288 | N/A |
    +--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------
    +---------

    My question is that :

    1. Can we derive the clock frequency from above?

    2. If yes, when clock period constraint = 2 ns, is following
    calculation correct?

    Clock frequency of core = 1/(2 + 0.244 + 0.001) = 444MHz.

    3. In summaryReport, following timing information is found.
    I do not understand why "#clocks in design = 0".
    Does this mean that "CTS" is not correct?

    Timing Information
    ---------------------------------------------------
    # Clocks in design = 0
    # Generated clocks = 0
    # "dont_use" cells from .libs = 67
    # "dont_touch" cells from .libs = 60
    # Cells in .lib with max_tran = 829
    # Cells in .lib with max_cap = 828
    # Cells in .lib with max_fanout = 0
     
    Pasacco, Feb 10, 2008
    #1
  2. Pasacco

    S. Badel Guest

    2. If yes, when clock period constraint = 2 ns, is following
    Setup mode slack is the important result for that. Basically means that your critical path is
    0.244ns longer than the target -- which is 2ns minus any uncertainty and/or useful skew, depending
    on your constraints and your flow.

    Therefore 2+0.244 would be your maximum clock period.

    Hold mode slack is not directly linked with the clock period -- though if you relax the clock
    constraint it will be easier to meet the hold constraints.

    It seems that you have done no hold optimization (optDesign -hold), because you have hold mode slack
    on your in2reg paths, which should be easy to fix.
    Though I can not verify, I find it strange. Are you sure you correctly set up your timing
    constraints (i.e. create_clock in your sdf file). I also find it strange that your timing reports
    more in2reg paths than reg2reg paths...

    "Good constraining is the key to good results" :)



    Cheers,

    Stéphane
     
    S. Badel, Feb 11, 2008
    #2
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