Statistical timing analysis techniques can be used to lead to the
construction of robust circuits in a consistent manner through the entire
design flow of synthesis, placement and routing. An exemplary technique
can include receiving library data for a design including timing models.
By comparing implementations of this data, a robust circuit can be
defined based on a set of criteria, which can include worst negative
slack, endpoint slack distribution, timing constraint violations, and
total negative slack. At this point, statistical timing analysis can be
used to drive logic changes that generate improved robustness in the
design. The statistical timing analysis can use a static timing delay
associated with the arc in statistical timing analysis as a mean and a
specified percentage of the mean as the standard deviation.