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Understanding Liberty Files in VLSI

Liberty files are an IEEE standard for defining timing, power, noise, and input/output characteristics of cells in a library. They contain a library header, cell headers, and pin headers. The library header defines modeling parameters, units, and thresholds. Cell headers provide cell names, areas, and footprints. Pin headers define pin directions, functions, and maximum capacitances. Pin parameters specify timing, transitions, power, and constraints. Liberty files allow characterization of cells across process, voltage, temperature variations.

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320 views8 pages

Understanding Liberty Files in VLSI

Liberty files are an IEEE standard for defining timing, power, noise, and input/output characteristics of cells in a library. They contain a library header, cell headers, and pin headers. The library header defines modeling parameters, units, and thresholds. Cell headers provide cell names, areas, and footprints. Pin headers define pin directions, functions, and maximum capacitances. Pin parameters specify timing, transitions, power, and constraints. Liberty files allow characterization of cells across process, voltage, temperature variations.

Uploaded by

catchakhil
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introduction to Liberty Files
  • Definition and Characteristics
  • Technical Overview
  • Data Indexing in Liberty Files
  • Liberty File Structure

Liberty Files

VLSI

Liberty Files

Definition
Format
Header, Cell Level, Pin Level
Cell Rise/Fall
Rise/Fall Transition

Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI

Liberty Files

What are Liberty Files?


Library Header

Cell Level Data

Definition
Liberty Files are a IEEE Standard for defining:

PVT Characterization

Relating Input and Output Characteristics

Timing

Power

Noise

Pin Level Data

Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI

Liberty Files

VA

Driver
waveform

Input A
Input B

Standard Cell

Ouput Q
Output QB

..

Q=f(A,B,..F)
QB=f(A,B,..F)
Z=f(A,B,..F)

..

Input F

Output Z
VZ

Variable
output load
VZ

VA

Timing Characteristics
Cell Rise/Fall
50-50% time delay through cell

70%

cell fall
(50%-->50%)

30%

DT input slew
(30%70%)

Rise/Fall Transition
Waveform transition, 30-70%

fall transition
(70%30%)

time

Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

Liberty Files

VLSI

index_1: Input Waveform Rise Time (ns) (20-80%)


index_2: Output Load (pF)
cell_rise values: delay 50%-50% (ns)
rise_transition values: Output Waveform Rise Time (ns) (20-80%)

Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI

Liberty Files

Liberty File Structure


Library Header
Library name and delay models.
Table lookup is most predominate method. Hence massive
number of matrices.

Nom_process FF, SS, FS, SF, TT


Nom_temperature Simulation Temperature
Nom_voltage Simulation Voltage Reference
Slew and Delay Threshold Points
Low Slew 10-20%
High Slew 80-90%
Threshold 50%

Sets Units (Voltage, Time, Current, Cap.)

Hendren, Berry, Fall 2012

Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI

Liberty Files

Liberty File Structure


Cell Header
Cell Name
Area
Cell Area without units

Cell Leakage Power


Cell Footprint
Type of Cell (Shorthand)
Combinational (NAND, NOR, etc.)
Sequential (Flops)

Hendren, Berry, Fall 2012


Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI

Liberty Files

Liberty File Structure


Pin Header
Direction - Input, output, inout, internal
Clock Pin
Function
Max Capacitance -Max output capacitance the output pin can drive.
Capacitance - Input load capacitance
Sequential Cells Flops

Clocked on
Next state
Clear
Preset
Hendren, Berry, Fall 2012
Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI

Liberty Files

Liberty File Structure


Pin Paramters
Internal Power
Output pins in combinational cells define rise_power and
fall_power to related input pin. Input and clock pins also define
this in sequential cells.

Timing
Output pins in combinational cells define: rise_delay, fall_delay,
rise_transition, and fall_transition.
Output pins in sequential cells define: rise_constraint,
fall_constraint (Setup and Hold)

Hendren, Berry, Fall 2012


Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS

VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 1 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 2 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 3 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 4 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 5 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 6 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 7 Liberty File
VLSI Joseph A. Elias, Ph.D, University of Kentucky, Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept; Cypress Semiconductor MTS 8 Liberty File

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