EDA & Development
been built with open APIs for access to the de facto standard Knowledge Database (KDB) and Fast Signal Database (FSDB). These APIs are used by third-party EDA providers to integrate state-of-the-art tools and technologies with the Verdi software environment for more complete solutions. In addition, a number of TCL commands for frequently used, higher level macro functions are also available to both Verdi users and ecosystem partners for file access and customisation of the Verdi user interface.
The company’s Verdi Interoperability Applications (VIA) platform has been designed to provide open connections to the Verdi database and software infrastructure and enable system-on-chip (SoC) design teams to easily create and reuse interoperable applications tailored for their own tool and design/verification flow requirements. The platform is an extension of the Verdi DKP that enables end users and application developers alike to leverage the power of the KDB/FSDB for data mining and manipulation based on their specific design/verification tool and SoC flow requirements. In addition to the fully productised VIA programming interface, the VIA platform provides Open Source development tools, Tool Command Language (TCL) script templates/examples, pre-verified C/C++ programs and how-to documentation to assist with skill development and expedite application deployment.
KDB contains design structure information from the compilation of
language interface for Tk and C-based applications as illustrated in the Verdi Command Language Architecture diagram.
Application exchange
The VIA platform is supported with a 24/7 online resource that facilitates the free exchange of Open Source Verdi scripts and end use applications contributed in source code format and authorised for modification/reuse by SpringSoft engineers, Verdi users and application developers.
Design investigation, tool or design flow integration, and design style or rules checking are among the most common areas targeted for application development with the VIA platform, as highlighted in the following process flow and application examples:
Scan chain extraction and browsing: Scan chains have the most important role in design testing. However, scan chain information is only recorded in DFT tool logs. In order to identify and debug specific scan chains, it would be useful to extract the scan chains from the DFT log file and then link to the related scan chain signals in the Verdi environment. As shown below, a VIA script can be used to automatically extract scan chains from the design and display them in the Verdi GUI for browsing.
Open port detection: The VIA script illustrated below automatically extracts and verifies the connection between modules, and dumps the result of the port for the specified scope.
Co-operation with CLP: VIA scripts can also be used to convert the results of Conformal Low Power (CLP) checkers into Verdi Tcl commands and present the related schematic view in the Verdi system.
In summary Potential applications with VIA
design sources in HDL stored in a compact binary data format. The design data is displayed by the Verdi software in multiple design views and used for a variety of advanced debug functions, such as hierarchy tree display, source code analysis and automatic schematic generation, etc. FSDB contains three kinds of information: design hierarchies, user- defined data types and value changes. Design hierarchies are the hierarchies between each scope (design entity) and the variables relating to each scope. User- defined data types include enumeration type, physical type, integer type, and other data types supported by current VHDL and SystemVerilog capabilities. Value changes are represented by simulation waveform data including the time and value for each change.
The VIA platform supports a command
www.cieonline.co.uk
SoC design and verification requires analysis of vast amounts of correlated data about the structural composition and temporal behaviour of designs. The complexity of this challenge requires a variety of commercial tools and custom utilities that work together reliably in user flows. The VIA platform looks to support the growing trend in the EDA community toward
greater openness and interoperability to help SoC development teams address the unique requirements of their design and verification flows. By providing access to a design knowledge platform, the VIA platform looks to help design and verification engineers to rapidly create custom applications that are optimised to save time and resources and easily deployed for a more automated, interoperable SoC flow.
Springsoft |
www.springsoft.com
Archie Feng is Manager of Product Marketing Department and Thomas Li, Director of Product Marketing, at Springsoft
Components in Electronics October 2011 37
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