Relative timing [asynchronous design]

Relative timing (RT) is introduced as a method for asynchronous design. Timing requirements of a circuit are made explicit using relative timing. Timing can be directly added, removed, and optimized using this style. RT synthesis and verification are demonstrated on three example circuits, facilitating transformations from speed-independent circuits to burst-mode and pulse-mode circuits. Relative timing enables improved performance, area, power, and functional testability of up to a factor of 3/spl times/ in all three cases. This method is the foundation of optimized timed circuit designs used in an industrial test chip, and may be formalized and automated.