timing_constraints.rst

Timing Constraints

VPR supports setting timing constraints using Synopsys Design Constraints (SDC), an industry-standard format for specifying timing constraints.

VPR's default timing constraints are explained in default_timing_constraints. The subset of SDC supported by VPR is described in sdc_commands. Additional SDC examples are shown in sdc_examples.

Default Timing Constraints

If no timing constriants are specified, VPR assumes default constraints based on the type of circuit being analyzed.

Combinational Circuits

Constrain all I/Os on a virtual clock virtual_io_clock, and optimize this clock to run as fast as possible.

Equivalent SDC File:

create_clock -period 0 -name virtual_io_clock
set_input_delay -clock virtual_io_clock -max 0 [get_ports {*}]
set_output_delay -clock virtual_io_clock -max 0 [get_ports {*}]

Single-Clock Circuits

Constrain all I/Os on the netlist clock, and optimize this clock to run as fast as possible.

Equivalent SDC File:

create_clock -period 0 *
set_input_delay -clock * -max 0 [get_ports {*}]
set_output_delay -clock * -max 0 [get_ports {*}]

Multi-Clock Circuits

Constrain all I/Os a virtual clock virtual_io_clock. Does not analyse paths between netlist clock domains, but analyses all paths from I/Os to any netlist domain. Optimizes all clocks, including I/O clocks, to run as fast as possible.

Warning

By default VPR does not analyze paths between netlist clock domains.

Equivalent SDC File:

create_clock -period 0 *
create_clock -period 0 -name virtual_io_clock
set_clock_groups -exclusive -group {clk} -group {clk2}
set_input_delay -clock virtual_io_clock -max 0 [get_ports {*}]
set_output_delay -clock virtual_io_clock -max 0 [get_ports {*}]

Where clk and clk2 are the netlist clocks in the design. This is similarily extended if there are more than two netlist clocks.