Monotone sensitivity of nonlinear uniform RC transmission lines, with application to timing analysis of digital MOS integrated circuits

Recent work by Rubinstein, Penfield, and Horowitz [1] gives simple delay bounds for linear ladder networks-used to model polysilicon and diffusion interconnect in MOS integrated circuits. This paper presents a theorem that justifies applying these bounds to more realistic interconnect models incorporating nonlinearities. The main result applies to unbranched lines.