Performing signal integrity (SI) analysis on integrated circuit designs is
becoming increasingly important as these designs increase in size and
complexity. Dividing a design into blocks can simplify the resulting
analysis. Additionally, such blocks can be replaced with timing models,
which provide a compact means of exchanging interface timing information
for the blocks. To further increase the speed and accuracy of SI
analysis, enhanced interface logic models (SI-ILMs) can be used. An
SI-ILM can include cells in timing paths that serve as the interface
between the block and other parts of the design. The SI-ILM can also
include internal nets that have cross-coupling effects on interface nets
and nets outside the block. By including these internal nets, SI analysis
at the top-level can be both fast and accurate.