Set up time and hold time constraints

Question

Describe the term set up time and hold time constraints? Describe what do they mean? Which one is vital for estimating the maximum clock frequency of circuit?

Answer 1

Set up time: It is the amount of time which the data must be stable before the application of clock signal, where as the hold time is the quantity of time the data must be stable after the application of the clock. Setup time refers maximum delay constraints; hold time is for minimum delay constraints. The setup time is important for establishing the highest clock frequency.