Bi-Bounded Delay Models

Abstract

The race models discussed so far correspond to delays that are only bounded from above; consequently, the ratio between two delays can be arbitrarily large. The use of such models often leads to very conservative results. For example, suppose a GMW analysis indicates a possible timing problem, say a critical race. It may be the case that, unless the delay in one particular gate is greater than the sum of the delays in a large number of other gates, this critical race will always be resolved in the same way. To obtain more realistic results, we must place some constraints on the relative values of gate and wire delays.