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MMMC Debug Playbook: Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Step-by-Step Walkthrough for MMMC Debug Playbook.

Step-by-step analysis walkthrough

Use when you own MMMC Debug Playbook in a timing war room.

  1. Open signoff scenario list — note worst WNS corner.

  2. report_timing -max/-min on failing group.

  3. Trace launch and capture clocks on critical path.

  4. Check exceptions and generated clocks on path.

  5. Break down cell vs net delay.

  6. Compare implementation vs signoff view if delta suspicious.

  7. Assign owner: RTL, synth, PD, CTS, SI.

  8. Propose ECO with hold/SI check plan.

  9. Run regression matrix.

  10. Update closure dashboard and memo.

Artifacts to collect

  • per-corner WNS heatmap, mode failure matrix, scenario replay script

  • SDC file

  • SPEF tag

  • MMMC scenario list

  • ECO ticket

Decision memo template

diagram
STA DECISION MEMO — MMMC Debug Playbook
corner/mode:
WNS/TNS:
hypothesis:
ECO:
regression:
owners: STA owner, timing closure lead

Reference visuals

Corner isolation heatmap

diagram
WNS BY CORNER (mV)

        ss   tt   ff
reg2reg -80  +20  +5
hold    -12  -3   -15
io      +10  +30  +25

Cluster guides which scenario to debug first.

STA deep dive

Signoff WNS is the minimum across the full scenario matrix.

Concept diagram

diagram
MMMC

corners (ss/tt/ff) x modes (func/test) x views (signoff RC)
= scenario set -> min(WNS) is signoff

Metric graph

diagram
WNS HEATMAP BY CORNER

        ss    tt    ff
setup  -80   +10   +5
hold   -15   -2    -8

Reports and artifacts

  • per-corner WNS

  • mode summary

  • lib map audit

  • view delta

Mini case study

Passed TT typical but failed SS hold — signoff matrix was incomplete; added low-voltage mode.

Debug branches

  • Isolate failing scenario first

  • Never compare unlike SPEF tags

Senior review question

Ask: what corner/mode/view proves this topic is closed or failing?

Key takeaways

  • State corner, mode, view, and database tag with every slack claim.

  • Run setup and hold plus MMMC regression after every ECO.

Common pitfalls

  • Comparing STA runs with different SPEF or SDC tags.

  • Broad false_path to green-wash violations.

  • Setup-only ECO without hold check.

Principal STA review addendum

MMMC failures cluster by corner, mode, or library; triage isolates the scenario before touching RTL or layout.

Metric: scenario-specific violation clusters, corner isolation time

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