Synopsys Design Constraint (SDC)

1 create_clock
2 create_generated_clock
3 set_clock_groups
4 set_false_path
5 set_input_delay
6 set_output_delay
7 set_min_delay
8 set_max_delay
9 set_multicycle_path

create_clock

Creates a clock and defines its waveform.

create_clock [-name clock_name]

[-period float]

[-waveform <edge_list>]

Arguments:

Name	Description
-name	Specifies the name of the clock.
-period	Specifies the length of the clock period.
-waveform	Specifies the rise and fall edge times of the clock waveform over one clock period. The first value corresponds to the first rising transition after time zero. The numbers should represent one full clock period.
source	The query which specifies how to get a clock related point. A valid query can be: `get_ports <port_name>` or `get_registers <register_name>`
	`[-add]`, `[-apply_inverted]` and `[-domain]` arguments is not supported by Nxmap

Examples:

The following example creates two clocks on ports clk1 and clk2 with a period of 8, a rising edge at 0, and a falling edge at 4:

create_clock -period 8 clk1
create_clock –period 8 –waveform {0 4} {clk2}

The following example creates a clock on port clk3 with a period of 7, a rising edge at 2, and a falling edge at 4:

create_clock –period 7 –waveform {2 4} [get_ports {clk3}]

Please note that virtual clocks are not handled by Nxmap.

create_generated_clock

Creates a new clock signal from the clock waveform of a given pin in the design.

create_generated_clock [-divide_by integer]

[-duty_cycle float]

[-edge_shift float list]

[-edges integer list]

[-invert]

[-multiply_by integer]

[-name clock_name]

[-offset float]

[-phase unsigned]

[-source {port | pin}]

Arguments:

Name	Description
-divide_by	Determines the frequency of the new clock by dividing the frequency of the source clock by this factor. The value must be greater or equal to 1. Default value is 1
-duty_cycle	Specifies the duty cycle (high pulse width) as a percentage of the clock period. The range must be between 1 and 99. Default value is 50.0
-edge_shift	Specifies how much each edge specified with the `-edges` option should be shifted.
-edges	Selects a list of edges from the source clock that form the edges of the derived clock. You must specify an odd number of edges. The last edge represents the first edge of the next clock period. You cannot specify this option with either the `-divide_by` or `-multiply_by` option.
-invert	Inverts the resulting waveform of the generated clock.
-multiply_by	Determines the frequency of the new clock by multiplying the frequency of the source clock with this factor. The value must be greater or equal to 1. Default value is 1
-name	Specifies the name of the generated clock.
-offset	Specifies the offset for the rising edge.
-phase	Specifies the phase of the generated clock. The range must be from 0 to 359
-source	Specifies the name of the pin from which the clock must be derived. A valid argument can be: `get_clocks`, `get_ports`, `get_registers`.
target	Specifies how to get a clock related point. A valid argument can be: `get_registers`
	`[-add]`, `[-master_clock]`, `[-combinational]` and `[-domain]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap.

Examples:

The following example creates a generated clock on pin register_1 with a period twice as long as the period at the reference port clock

create_generated_clock –divide_by 2 –source [get_ports {clock}] [get_registers {register_1}]

The following example creates a generated clock at the pin ck with a period ¾ of the period at the reference port clock

create_generated_clock –divide_by 3 –multiply_by 4 -source [get_ports {clock}] [get_nets {ck}]

set_clock_groups

Specifies the groups of clocks between which timing analysis will not be done.

set_clock_groups [-asynchronous]

[-exclusive]

[-group]

Arguments:

Name	Description
asynchronous	Defines clock group with asynchronous clocks. Asynchronous clocks have no specified phase relationship.
exclusive	Defines clock group with clocks that cannot exist in the design at the same time.
group	Specifies a group of clocks.
	`[-physically_exclusive]` and `[-logically_exclusive]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap.

Examples:

create_clock -period 10 -name "clk1" [get_ports clk_1]
create_clock -period 12 -name "clk2" [get_ports clk_2]
create_clock -period 15 -name "clk3" [get_ports clk_3]
set_clock_groups -asynchronous -group [get_clocks clk1] -group [get_clocks clk2]
set_clock_groups -exclusive -group [get_clocks clk1] -group [get_clocks clk3]

set_false_path

Identifies false paths in a design, and breaks or disables specific instance timing arcs in a design resulting in them not being timed.

set_false_path [-from source_name]

[-to target_name]

[-group]

Arguments:

Name	Description

Name	Description
from	Specifies how to get a timing path starting points. A valid timing starting point is an input port or a register. A valid argument can be: `get_ports` or `get_registers`
to	Specifies how to get a timing path ending points. A valid timing ending point is an output port or a register. A valid argument can be: `get_ports` or `get_registers`
group	Specifies a group of clocks. Specify at least two clocks.
	`[-rise_from]`, `[-fall_from]`, `[-rise_to]`, `[-fall_to]`, `[-hold]`, `[-setup]`, `[-through]`, `[-exception_name]` and `[-reset_path]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap

-from and -to options apply the constraint to both the rising and falling edges

Examples:

set_false_path -from [get_ports cpt_in*] -to [get_clocks clk2]
set_false_path -from [get_registers {cpt_in_p_reg[0]}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_0|s_cpt_out_reg[0]}]
set_false_path -from [get_ports {cpt_in[0]}] -to [get_registers {cpt_in_p_reg[0]}]

set_input_delay

Constrains input and in/out (bidirectional) ports, port busses, and pins (that are valid start points) within the design relative to a clock edge. If you omit both the -min and -max options, the delay is assumed to apply for both setup and hold analysis.

set_input_delay [-clock clock_name]

[-clock_fall ]

[-max float]

[-min float]

<delay>

<ports>

Arguments:

Name	Description

Name	Description
clock	Specifies the clock reference to which the specified input delay is related. This is a mandatory argument.
clock_fall	Specifies that input delay is relative to the falling edge of the clock. When it is not set, the delay is applied on the rising edge of the clock.
max	Applies value as minimum data delay, it refers to the longest path. The default value is max if the max is defined, otherwise it is set to 0.
min	Applies value as minimum data delay, it refers to the longest path. The default value is max if the max is defined, otherwise it is set to 0.
delay	Specifies the arrival time in nanoseconds or picoseconds that represents the amount of time for which the signal is available at the specified input after a clock edge.
ports	Provides a list of input ports in the current design to which `delay_value` is assigned.
	`[-refecrence_pin]`, `[-add_delay]`, `[-source_latency_included]`, `[-rise]`, `[-fall]`, `[-level_sensitive]`, `[-network_latency_included]` and `[-group_path]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap

Examples:

create_clock -period 10 -name "CLK_MAIN" [get_ports clk]
set_input_delay -clock [get_clocks CLK_MAIN] -max 1.0 [get_ports {cpt_in[0]}]
set_input_delay -clock [get_clocks CLK_MAIN] -clock_fall -min 4.0 [get_ports {cpt_in[2]}]

If cpt_in is a bus of 4 bits, the constraint should be written as below :

set_input_delay -clock [get_clocks CLK_MAIN] -clock_fall -min 4.0 [get_ports {cpt_in*}]

set_output_delay

Constrains output and in/out (bidirectional) ports, port busses, and pins (that are valid start points) within the design relative to a clock edge. If you omit both the -min and -max options, the delay is assumed to apply for both setup and hold analysis.

set_output_delay [-clock clock_name]

[-clock_fall ]

[-max float]

[-min float]

<delay>

<ports>

Arguments:

Name	Description

Name	Description
clock	Specifies the clock reference to which the specified input delay is related. This is a mandatory argument.
clock_fall	Specifies that input delay is relative to the falling edge of the clock. When it is not set, the delay is applied on the rising edge of the clock.
max	Applies value as minimum data delay, it refers to the longest path. The default value is max if the max is defined, otherwise it is set to 0.
min	Applies value as minimum data delay, it refers to the longest path. The default value is max if the max is defined, otherwise it is set to 0.
delay	Specifies the arrival time in nanoseconds or picoseconds that represents the amount of time for which the signal is available at the specified input after a clock edge.
ports	Provides a list of output ports in the current design to which `delay_value` is assigned.
	`[-refecrence_pin]`, `[-add_delay]`, `[-source_latency_included]`, `[-rise]`, `[-fall]`, `[-level_sensitive]`, `[-network_latency_included]` and `[-group_path]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap

Examples:

create_clock -period 10 -name "CLK_MAIN" [get_ports clk]
set_output_delay -clock [get_clocks CLK_MAIN] -max 1.0 [get_ports {cpt_out[0]}]
set_output_delay -clock [get_clocks CLK_MAIN] -clock_fall -min 4.0 [get_ports {cpt_out[2]}]

If cpt_out is a bus of 4 bits, the constraint should be written as below :

set_output_delay -clock [get_clocks CLK_MAIN] -clock_fall -min 4.0 [get_ports {cpt_out*}]

set_min_delay

Specifies a minimum delay exception for a given path.

set_min_delay [-from string]

[-to string]

<delay>

Arguments:

Name	Description

Name	Description
from	The argument which specifies how to get a timing path starting points. A valid timing starting point can be either an input port or a register. A valid argument can be: `get_ports` or `get_registers`
to	The argument which specifies how to get a timing path ending points. A valid timing ending point can be either an output port or a register. A valid argument can be: `get_ports` or `get_registers`
delay	The required minimum delay value in ns for specified paths.
	`[-rise_from]`, `[-fall_from]`, `[-rise_to]`, `[-fall_to]`, `[-through]`, `[-rise_through]`, `[-fall_through]`, `[-rise]`, `[-fall]`, `[-ignore_clock_latency]`, `[-exception_name]`, `[-combinational_from_to]` and `[-reset_path]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap.

Examples:

set_min_delay -from [get_registers {i_cpt_0|s_cpt_out_reg[0]}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[1]}] 8000
set_min_delay -from [get_ports {cpt_in[0]}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[1]}]  2000 
set_min_delay -from [get_ports {cpt_in*}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[1]}] 1000

set_max_delay

Specifies a maximum delay exception for a given path.

set_max_delay [-from string]

[-to string]

<delay>

Arguments:

Name	Description

Name	Description
from	The argument which specifies how to get a timing path starting points. A valid timing starting point can be either an input port or a register. A valid argument can be: `get_ports` or `get_registers`
to	The argument which specifies how to get a timing path ending points. A valid timing ending point can be either an output port or a register. A valid argument can be: `get_ports` or `get_registers`
delay	The required maximum delay value in ns for specified paths.
	`[-rise_from]`, `[-fall_from]`, `[-rise_to]`, `[-fall_to]`, `[-through]`, `[-rise_through]`, `[-fall_through]`, `[-rise]`, `[-fall]`, `[-ignore_clock_latency]`, `[-exception_name]`, `[-combinational_from_to]` and `[-reset_path]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap.

Examples:

set_max_delay -from [get_registers {i_cpt_0|s_cpt_out_reg[0]}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[1]}] 8000
set_max_delay -from [get_ports {cpt_in[0]}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[1]}]  2000 
set_max_delay -from [get_ports {cpt_in*}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[1]}] 1000

set_multicycle_path

Specifies a multicycle exception for a given set of paths.

set_multicycle_path [-from string]

[-to string]

<delay>

Arguments:

Name	Description

Name	Description
from	Specifies how to get a timing path starting points. A valid timing starting point is a register. A valid argument can be `get_registers`
to	Specifies how to get a timing path ending points. A valid timing ending point is a register. A valid argument can be `get_registers`
delay	The required maximum delay value in ns for specified paths.
	`[-rise_from]`, `[-fall_from]`, `[-rise_to]`, `[-fall_to]`, `[-through]`, `[-rise_through]`, `[-fall_through]`, `[-rise]`, `[-fall]`, `[-ignore_clock_latency]`, `[-exception_name]`, `[-combinational_from_to]`, `[-reset_path]`, `[-start]` and `[-end]` arguments are not supported by Nxmap.

Examples:

set_multicycle_path -from [get_registers {UUT1|Gen_seq[3].seq_i|temp_reg[1]}] -to [get_registers {UUT2|dout_reg[61]}] 2
set_multicycle_path -from [get_registers {i_cpt_0|s_cpt_out_reg[2]}] -to [get_registers {i_cpt_1|s_cpt_out_reg[2]}] 2

This method is only available for path(s) whose source and target registers are clocked by the same clock!