CGTA: current gain-based timing analysis for logic cells

This paper introduces a new current-based cell timing analyzer, called CGTA, which has a higher performance than existing logic cell timing analysis tools. CGTA relies on a compact lookup table storing the output current gain (sensitivity) of every logic cell as a function of its input voltage and output load. The current gain values are subsequently used by the timing calculator to produce the output current value as a function of the applied input voltage. This current and the output load then uniquely determine the output voltage value. Therefore, CGTA is capable of efficiently and accurately computing the output voltage waveform of a logic cell, which has been subjected to an arbitrary noisy input voltage waveform. Experimental results are presented to assess the quality of CGTA compared to other existing approaches