Process variation extraction

Process variation extraction needs to be design specific, and based on random field simulation, as mechanical engineering techniquesStatistical timing analysis is based on a priori knowledge of process variations. The lack of such a priori knowledge of process variations prevents accurate statistical timing analysis and has been largely blamed for foundry confidentiality policy. In this paper, it is shown that a significant part of process variations are specific to the design, and can only be achieved based on production chip performance variabilities.