Abstract: A method of optimizing clock network capacitance of an integrated circuit (IC) including identifying any crossover points between clock traces and signal traces and reducing clock trace to reference trace capacitance at identified crossover points. Each clock trace is shielded by ground traces routed on either side of the clock traces. The reducing of clock trace to reference trace capacitance may include narrowing the reference traces at identified crossover points. Narrowing of the reference traces at a crossover point reduces capacitance to compensate for additional capacitance between the clock trace and the signal trace. Narrowing may be performed by trimming or notching at the crossover points. Such capacitive compensation provides clock traces of the clock network with substantially uniform capacitance per unit length.

Abstract: A teacher-pupil flip-flop with reduced register delay including a gate circuit, a stack circuit, a keeper circuit, a teacher output circuit, a latch circuit and a pupil output circuit. The gate circuit switches after a setup delay in response to transitions of a clock signal. The stack circuit, coupled to the gate circuit output and to an input, switches an intermediate node pair to a preliminary state when the clock signal is low, and to a data state indicative of the input after the setup delay when the clock signal goes high. The keeper circuit maintains the data state and the teacher output circuit drives the output based on the data state while the clock is high. The latch circuit stores the data state and the pupil output circuit drives the output with valid data from the latch circuit after the clock signal goes low.

Abstract: A teacher-pupil flip-flop with reduced register delay including a gate circuit, a stack circuit, a keeper circuit, a teacher output circuit, a latch circuit and a pupil output circuit. The gate circuit switches after a setup delay in response to transitions of a clock signal. The stack circuit, coupled to the gate circuit output and to an input, switches an intermediate node pair to a preliminary state when the clock signal is low, and to a data state indicative of the input after the setup delay when the clock signal goes high. The keeper circuit maintains the data state and the teacher output circuit drives the output based on the data state while the clock is high. The latch circuit stores the data state and the pupil output circuit drives the output with valid data from the latch circuit after the clock signal goes low.

Abstract: A method of optimizing clock network capacitance of an integrated circuit (IC) including identifying any crossover points between clock traces and signal traces and reducing clock trace to reference trace capacitance at identified crossover points. Each clock trace is shielded by ground traces routed on either side of the clock traces. The reducing of clock trace to reference trace capacitance may include narrowing the reference traces at identified crossover points. Narrowing of the reference traces at a crossover point reduces capacitance to compensate for additional capacitance between the clock trace and the signal trace. Narrowing may be performed by trimming or notching at the crossover points. Such capacitive compensation provides clock traces of the clock network with substantially uniform capacitance per unit length.