Effects of crosstalk noise on H-tree clock distribution networks

Abstract

With the transition to deep submicron technologies the density of on-chip interconnect lines has increased, together with the switching rate of the signals propagating along these lines, resulting in increased on-chip interconnect noise. The effects of crosstalk noise on the clock signal propagation along an H-tree clock distribution network are investigated in this paper. Different scenarios of capacitive coupling along different spatial locations of an H-tree are considered. The effects of coupling on the propagation delay, the transition time, and the waveform shape of the clock signal are investigated.