STA Mastery · All levels

SI Timing & Noise

Crosstalk delta delay, aggressor/victim analysis, noise glitch, SI-driven ECO ordering, and SI signoff reports.

Section goal

Crosstalk delta delay, aggressor/victim analysis, noise glitch, SI-driven ECO ordering, and SI signoff reports.

How to study this section

  1. Start with the topic hub to learn the contract.

  2. Use mechanism and reports pages to connect rules to metrics.

  3. Use debug and worked-example pages for interview and on-call practice.

  4. Close with checklist and PPA impact before signing any change.

Topics

  1. delta-delay-mechanism/ — Delta Delay Mechanism

  2. noise-glitch-analysis/ — Noise Glitch Analysis

  3. si-eco-fix-order/ — SI ECO Fix Order

  4. si-signoff-reports/ — SI Signoff Reports

Related topics

STA deep dive

Coupling makes delay a function of neighbors, not just wire RC.

Concept diagram

diagram
SI ON VICTIM

victim net delay = base_RC + coupling_from_aggressors

Metric graph

diagram
DELTA DELAY ON CRITICAL PATHS

no SI   ████████  1.2ns
with SI ██████████  1.35ns  (+150ps)

Reports and artifacts

  • delta delay report

  • aggressor list

  • noise peaks

  • SI WNS delta

Mini case study

Setup fixed by upsize but SI worsened — spacing ECO on bus bits recovered margin.

Debug branches

  • Re-run SI after every timing ECO

  • Shield wide switching buses

Senior review question

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