A method for converting globally clock-gated circuits to locally
clock-gated circuits is disclosed. A timing analysis is initially
performed on an integrated circuit (IC) design to generate a slack time
report for all globally clock-gated circuits within the IC design. Based
on their respective slack time indicated in the slack time report, all
globally clock-gated circuits that should be connected to locally
generated clocks are identified. After disconnecting from a global clock
tree, each of the identified globally clock-gated circuits is
subsequently connected to a locally generated clock having a clock delay
comparable to its slack time indicated in the slack time report.