Reducing the complexity of path classification by reconvergence analysis

Abstract

We present a new and efficient method for path classification, i.e. for determining the set of functional unsensitizable or robust dependent paths, in combinational circuits. In a pre-processing step, the new method computes a minimal set of reconvergence regions that need to be considered for path classification. Functional sensitization is only performed for path segments contained in these regions. Thus, the complexity for path classification can be reduced from the total number of paths in the circuit to the number of paths contained in the minimal set of reconvergence regions.