DELAY Primitive
Path delay element for backannotation.
Model
Description
The DELAY primitive is a backannotation element used to add path delays to a circuit. It represents a point-to-point propagation delay that can be inserted into the signal path during post-layout timing analysis.
Backannotation elements like DELAY and LOAD allow designers to incorporate extracted timing information from layout tools back into the simulation model without modifying the original circuit description.
Equivalent Type Statement
Type=DELAY i=I o=Q
Usage in Network Description
The DELAY element is instantiated in the network description to model path delays:
PART= TYPE=delay I= O= $
ORISE= OFALL=
Or using the OCHANGE keyword for symmetric delays:
PART= TYPE=delay I= O= $
OCHANGE=
Usage in Backannotation Files
DELAY elements are commonly used in backannotation (.ann) files that are read with the GET AFILE= command. These files can contain DELAY instances alongside LOAD elements to add both path delays and net loading to the circuit.
Example
Adding a path delay of 5 time units between two circuit nodes:
PART=path_delay1 TYPE=delay I=node_a O=node_b OCHANGE=5
Adding different rise and fall delays:
PART=path_delay2 TYPE=delay I=sig_in O=sig_out $
ORISE=7 OFALL=5
Notes
- The
DELAYelement is one of two backannotation primitives, along withLOAD. - Path delays specified with DELAY elements are added to the intrinsic delays already present in the circuit model.
- Backannotation files (with default .ann extension) can be specified using the
GET AFILE=command. - Subsequent
GET AFILEcommands restore the original circuit delays before applying new backannotation data. - Delay values can be specified as single values or as min/typ/max triplets in the form:
typ;min;max