Abstract: An ECO hold time fixing method fulfills a short path padding in a placed and routed design by a minimum capacitance insertion. In the method, a padding value determination step receives the placed and routed design and is based on a cell library, timing constraints, and a timing analysis report to determine padding values and locations required for each gate of the placed and routed design to output. A load/buffer allocation step is based on a spare cell information, a dummy metal information, and the padding values and locations to achieve the short path padding in the placed and routed design.

Abstract: An ECO hold time fixing method fulfills a short path padding in a placed and routed design by a minimum capacitance insertion. In the method, a padding value determination step receives the placed and routed design and is based on a cell library, timing constraints, and a timing analysis report to determine padding values and locations required for each gate of the placed and routed design to output. A load/buffer allocation step is based on a spare cell information, a dummy metal information, and the padding values and locations to achieve the short path padding in the placed and routed design.