A single verification tool provides both static timing analysis and timing
simulation capabilities targeted at both full-custom and ASIC designs in
a unified environment. In various embodiments the verification tool
includes the following features: (a) Integrating both static timing
analysis and dynamic simulation tools into a single tool, (b) Efficient
path search for multi-phase, multi-frequency and multi-cycle circuit in
the presence of level sensitive latch, (c) Automatically identifying
circuit structure, e.g. complex gate, for timing characterization, (d)
Circuit structures at transistor level solved by incorporating function
check, (e) Carrying out functional check to filter out false path and
identifying gate with simultaneously changing inputs, (f) Finding maximum
operating frequency in the presence of level sensitive latches after
filtering out false paths, (g) Crosstalk solver by utilizing the
admittance matrix and voltage transfer of RLC part in frequency domain
coupled with the non-linear driver in time domain implemented in
spice-like simulator, (h) Making use of the correlation between inputs of
aggressors and victim to determine switching time at victim's output
iteratively.