Delay budgeting for a timing-closure-driven design method

In this paper, we present an RTL delay-budgeting approach for a timing-closure-driven design method. We formulate the delay-budgeting problem into the Lagrange-Multipliers-based slack distribution problem. We present two algorithms, namely the balanced slack distribution algorithm and the AT-based (Area-Time) slack distribution algorithm, to solve the problem. We also present a timing-closure-driven design flow by integrating commercial synthesis/layout tools with the proposed algorithms. We have demonstrated the viability of the proposed RTL delay-budgeting method. The results show that without an accurate AT-characteristic projection of modules the balanced slack distribution algorithm will be a good choice for delay budgeting at RTL.