Work out critical path timing instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
The critical path is the longest logic chain between registers: stages times delay per stage plus wire delay, then derated for process, voltage and temperature variation. On-chip variation derates of 5-10% are typical and are applied before the path is declared timing-clean.
Critical path
delay = stages x delay per stage + wire delay, x (1 + OCV derate)
Because a chip must work at every corner of process, voltage and temperature. Derating covers within-die variation that corner analysis alone misses.
Reduce logic depth by restructuring, retime by moving registers, upsize critical gates, or pipeline the path into two shorter ones.