Hardware switching circuit adaptive to simulation platform
By designing hardware adapter circuits that adapt to simulation platforms, using board-to-board connection modules, hardware extension connection modules and other components, the adaptation between peripheral interfaces and simulation platforms is achieved, and the problems of insufficient resources and high cost of customized hardware boards in the existing technology are solved, and flexible interface verification and the effect of reducing hardware development costs are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411691109.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
AI Technical Summary
The existing simulation platforms lack resources and have long cycles and high costs for custom hardware boards in terms of chip new interface verification, and lack flexibility.
Design a hardware adapter circuit suitable for simulation platform, including board-to-board connection module, hardware extension connection module, field programmable logic gate array system, joint test group connection module and power supply protection module. Through the coordinated work of these modules, frequency and protocol conversion between peripheral interfaces and simulation platform is realized, and existing hardware resources are reused.
It realizes the reuse of existing hardware resources on the simulation platform, flexibly expands the verification requirements of different peripheral interfaces, reduces hardware development costs, and avoids long-term and high-cost hardware board customization.
Smart Images
Figure CN119805953A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of circuit technology, and in particular to a hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform. Background Art
[0002] Currently, chip interface verification on the simulation platform strongly relies on the existing board resources of the simulation platform manufacturer, which cannot meet the verification of new chip interfaces. In addition, the simulation platform manufacturer's customized hardware board has a long cycle, high cost, and no flexibility. Summary of the invention
[0003] The present invention provides a hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform, which is used to realize the verification requirements of different peripheral interfaces by reusing existing hardware resources on the simulation platform, has flexibility, and reduces the purpose of hardware development cost.
[0004] The present invention provides a hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform, comprising: A board-to-board connection module, used for connecting to the simulation platform; A hardware expansion connection module, used for inserting an interface card, wherein the interface card is used for expanding at least one peripheral interface to be verified; a field programmable logic gate array system, which is communicatively connected to the board-to-board connection module and the hardware expansion connection module, respectively, and is used to implement the adaptation between the at least one peripheral interface to be verified and the simulation platform, and the simulation platform is used to verify the at least one peripheral interface to be verified; A joint test working group connection module, which is connected to the field programmable logic gate array system for communication and is used to implement simulation, program burning and debugging of the field programmable logic gate array system; A power supply protection module is electrically connected to the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system, and is used to provide power supply and protection for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system.
[0005] According to a hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the field programmable logic gate array system comprises: A frequency conversion circuit, used for converting the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface into a frequency adapted to the interface frequency of the simulation platform, and outputting a first input / output signal when the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is not compatible with the interface frequency of the simulation platform; A protocol conversion circuit is communicatively connected to the frequency conversion circuit, and is used for converting the protocol of the first input / output signal into a protocol compatible with the interface protocol of the simulation platform when the protocol of the first input / output signal is not compatible with the interface protocol of the simulation platform, and outputting a second input / output signal as the input / output signal of the simulation platform.
[0006] According to a hardware switching circuit for adapting a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the field programmable logic gate array system further includes: A bypass circuit is used to output the input / output signal of the peripheral interface as the input / output signal of the simulation platform when the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is adapted to the interface frequency of the simulation platform and the protocol of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is adapted to the interface protocol of the simulation platform.
[0007] According to a hardware switching circuit for adapting a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the field programmable logic gate array system further includes: A sampling circuit is used to sample the input / output signals of the peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform, and input the sampled input / output signals of the peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform into an external simulation device through a joint test working group connection module for simulation and problem location.
[0008] According to a hardware adapter circuit for an adaptation simulation platform provided by the present invention, it also includes a small pluggable optical port connection module, which is used to provide a high-speed interconnection interface between the field programmable logic gate array systems; the number of the field programmable logic gate array systems is multiple, and the multiple field programmable logic gate array systems are communicatively connected through the high-speed interconnection interface.
[0009] According to a hardware adapter circuit adapted to a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the board-to-board connection module includes a male socket and a female socket, the shapes of the male socket and the female socket match, the male socket is connected to the field programmable logic gate array system, and the female socket is connected to the simulation platform.
[0010] According to a hardware switching circuit for adapting a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the hardware expansion connection module includes a hardware expansion connector, and the protocol of the hardware expansion connector is adapted to the protocol of the interface card.
[0011] According to a hardware switching circuit for adapting a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the joint test workgroup connection module includes a joint test workgroup connector.
[0012] According to a hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the power supply protection module includes a power supply circuit and a protection circuit, the power supply circuit is used to provide power for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system, and the protection circuit is used to provide power protection for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system.
[0013] According to a hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform provided by the present invention, the small pluggable optical port connection module includes a small pluggable optical port connector.
[0014] The hardware switching circuit of the adaptation simulation platform provided by the present invention includes: a board-to-board connection module for docking the simulation platform; a hardware expansion connection module for inserting an interface card, the interface card is used to expand at least one peripheral interface to be verified, and can flexibly expand different peripheral interfaces newly added to the chip, with flexibility; a field programmable logic gate array system, which is respectively communicated and connected with the board-to-board connection module and the hardware expansion connection module, for realizing the adaptation between at least one peripheral interface to be verified and the simulation platform, the simulation platform is used to verify at least one peripheral interface to be verified, and the existing hardware resources can be reused on the simulation platform to realize the verification requirements of different peripheral interfaces; a joint test working group connection module, which is communicated and connected with the field programmable logic gate array system, for realizing the simulation, program burning and debugging of the field programmable logic gate array system; a power supply protection module, which is electrically connected with the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system, for providing power and protection for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system. Therefore, the present invention can reuse the existing hardware resources on the simulation platform to realize the verification requirements of different peripheral interfaces, with flexibility. Furthermore, the present invention does not require a longer period and cost to customize hardware boards, thus reducing hardware development costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.
[0016] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of a hardware switching circuit of an adaptation simulation platform provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of interface conversion of the FPGA system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0019] Combine the following Figure 1-Figure 2 The hardware switching circuit of the adaptive simulation platform of the present invention is described.
[0020] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hardware switching circuit of the adaptation simulation platform provided by the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the hardware switching circuit includes: a board-to-board connection module 1, a hardware expansion connection module 2, a field programmable logic gate array system 3, a joint test working group connection module 4 and a power supply protection module 5.
[0021] The simulation platform 6 is an EMU simulation platform, which is a simulation acceleration platform built on a multi-core CPU.
[0022] The board-to-board connection module 1 is used for connecting to the simulation platform 6 .
[0023] Optionally, the board-to-board connection module 1 is a board-to-board (BTB) connector, the BTB connector includes a male socket 11 and a female socket 12, the shapes of the male socket 11 and the female socket 12 match, the male socket 11 is connected to the field programmable logic gate array system 3, and the female socket 12 is connected to the simulation platform 6.
[0024] The hardware expansion connection module 2 is used to insert an interface card, and the interface card is used to expand at least one peripheral interface to be verified. The interface card can flexibly expand different peripheral interfaces newly added to the chip.
[0025] Optionally, the hardware expansion connection module 2 includes a hardware expansion connector, and a protocol of the hardware expansion connector is adapted to a protocol of the interface card.
[0026] A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) system 3 is communicatively connected to the board-to-board connection module 1 and the hardware extension connection module 2, respectively, for implementing adaptation between at least one peripheral interface to be verified and a simulation platform 6, and the simulation platform 6 is used to verify at least one peripheral interface to be verified.
[0027] Specifically, since simulation platform 6 is an EMU simulation platform, the EMU simulation platform is a simulation acceleration platform built based on a multi-core CPU. The behavior of the chip is simulated through the multi-core CPU, and the chip data is also packaged and output after being packaged through the interface protocol of the simulation platform. The rate is low, and FPGA system 3 is required for frequency conversion and protocol conversion.
[0028] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 As shown, the FPGA system 3 includes a frequency conversion circuit 31 and a protocol conversion circuit 32. The frequency conversion circuit 31 is used to convert the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface into a frequency adapted to the interface frequency of the simulation platform 6 when the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is not compatible with the interface frequency of the simulation platform 6, and output a first input / output signal. The protocol conversion circuit 32 is communicatively connected to the frequency conversion circuit 31, and is used to convert the protocol of the first input / output signal into a protocol adapted to the interface protocol of the simulation platform 6 when the protocol of the first input / output signal is not compatible with the interface protocol of the simulation platform 6, and output a second input / output signal as the input / output signal of the simulation platform 6.
[0029] In this embodiment, the FPGA system 3 may be used to perform frequency conversion and protocol conversion on the input / output signals of the peripheral interface to make them compatible with the interface frequency and interface protocol of the simulation platform.
[0030] Alternatively, if Figure 2 As shown, the FPGA system 3 also includes a bypass circuit 33. The bypass circuit 33 is used to output the input / output signal of the peripheral interface as the input / output signal of the simulation platform 6 when the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is adapted to the interface frequency of the simulation platform 6 and the protocol of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is adapted to the interface protocol of the simulation platform 6.
[0031] In this embodiment, when the frequency and protocol of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface are compatible with the simulation platform, there is no need for frequency conversion and protocol conversion, and a bypass circuit can be used to directly output the input / output signal of the peripheral interface to the simulation platform.
[0032] Alternatively, if Figure 2 As shown, the FPGA system 3 also includes a sampling circuit 34. The sampling circuit 34 is used to sample the input / output signals of the peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform 6, and input the sampled input / output signals of the peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform 6 to the external simulation device 7 through the joint test working group connection module 4 for simulation and problem location.
[0033] In this embodiment, the sampling circuit can input the input / output signals of the sampled peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform into an external simulation device (for example, a simulator, a computer, etc.) through a joint test working group connection module. The external simulation device can display a signal waveform and use logic probes to effectively locate the problem.
[0034] The joint test working group connection module 4 is in communication connection with the field programmable logic gate array system 3 , and is used to implement simulation, program burning and debugging of the field programmable logic gate array system 3 .
[0035] Optionally, the joint test action group connection module 4 includes a joint test action group (JTAG) connector.
[0036] The power supply protection module 5 is electrically connected to the hardware extension connection module 2 and the field programmable logic gate array system 3 , and is used to provide power supply and protection for the hardware extension connection module 2 and the field programmable logic gate array system 3 .
[0037] Optionally, the power supply protection module 5 includes a power supply circuit and a protection circuit, the power supply circuit is used to provide power for the hardware expansion connection module 2 and the field programmable logic gate array system 3, and the protection circuit is used to provide power protection for the hardware expansion connection module 2 and the field programmable logic gate array system 3.
[0038] In one embodiment, the hardware switching circuit of the adaptive simulation platform further includes a small pluggable optical port connection module 8, which is used to provide a high-speed interconnection interface between the field programmable logic gate array systems 3. There are multiple field programmable logic gate array systems 3, and the multiple field programmable logic gate array systems 3 are communicatively connected through the high-speed interconnection interface.
[0039] Optionally, the small form-factor pluggable optical port connection module 8 includes a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical port connector.
[0040] In this embodiment, when the FPGA system resources are insufficient, a high-speed interconnection interface between field programmable gate array systems can be provided through a small pluggable optical port connection module. Multiple field programmable gate array systems can be communicated and connected through the high-speed interconnection interface, thereby expanding the FPGA system resources.
[0041] The hardware switching circuit of the adaptation simulation platform provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes: a board-to-board connection module for docking the simulation platform; a hardware expansion connection module for inserting an interface card, the interface card is used to expand at least one peripheral interface to be verified, and can flexibly expand different peripheral interfaces newly added to the chip, with flexibility; a field programmable logic gate array system, which is respectively communicated and connected with the board-to-board connection module and the hardware expansion connection module, and is used to realize the adaptation between at least one peripheral interface to be verified and the simulation platform, and the simulation platform is used to verify at least one peripheral interface to be verified, and the existing hardware resources can be reused on the simulation platform to realize the verification requirements of different peripheral interfaces; a joint test working group connection module, which is communicated and connected with the field programmable logic gate array system, and is used to realize the simulation, program burning and debugging of the field programmable logic gate array system; a power supply protection module, which is electrically connected with the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system, and is used to provide power and protection for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system. Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention can reuse the existing hardware resources on the simulation platform to realize the verification requirements of different peripheral interfaces, and has flexibility. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention do not require a longer period and cost to customize hardware boards, thus reducing hardware development costs.
[0042] Furthermore, the hardware switching circuit of the adaptation simulation platform provided in the embodiment of the present invention can realize functions such as interface protocol conversion, interface frequency conversion, input / output signal bypass, etc., and has scalability, which is of great significance for the integration and utilization of resources between platforms in the future.
[0043] Furthermore, the hardware adapter circuit of the adaptation simulation platform provided in the embodiment of the present invention has flexible configuration of peripheral interfaces and can cover a variety of interfaces and protocols according to selection, thereby helping the system to perform scenario testing and verification in advance before silicon, and can help the chip to be developed and adapted according to user needs as early as possible, which can effectively help determine whether the system architecture is reasonable.
[0044] In addition, the hardware adapter circuit for the adaptation simulation platform provided in the embodiment of the present invention can realize the simulation operation of the actual device on the simulation platform, which is closer to the real scene, greatly improves the coverage of pre-silicon verification, thereby reducing the risk of tape-out, and also greatly improves the efficiency of post-silicon return verification.
[0045] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims
1. A hardware switching circuit adapted to a simulation platform, characterized in that: include: A board-to-board connection module, used for connecting to the simulation platform; A hardware expansion connection module, used for inserting an interface card, wherein the interface card is used for expanding at least one peripheral interface to be verified; a field programmable logic gate array system, which is communicatively connected to the board-to-board connection module and the hardware expansion connection module, respectively, and is used to implement the adaptation between the at least one peripheral interface to be verified and the simulation platform, and the simulation platform is used to verify the at least one peripheral interface to be verified; A joint test working group connection module, which is connected to the field programmable logic gate array system for communication and is used to implement simulation, program burning and debugging of the field programmable logic gate array system; A power supply protection module is electrically connected to the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system, and is used to provide power supply and protection for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system.
2. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The field programmable logic gate array system comprises: A frequency conversion circuit, used for converting the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface into a frequency adapted to the interface frequency of the simulation platform, and outputting a first input / output signal when the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is not compatible with the interface frequency of the simulation platform; A protocol conversion circuit is communicatively connected to the frequency conversion circuit, and is used for converting the protocol of the first input / output signal into a protocol compatible with the interface protocol of the simulation platform when the protocol of the first input / output signal is not compatible with the interface protocol of the simulation platform, and outputting a second input / output signal as the input / output signal of the simulation platform.
3. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 2, characterized in that: The field programmable logic gate array system further comprises: A bypass circuit is used to output the input / output signal of the peripheral interface as the input / output signal of the simulation platform when the frequency of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is adapted to the interface frequency of the simulation platform and the protocol of the input / output signal of the peripheral interface is adapted to the interface protocol of the simulation platform.
4. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 3, characterized in that: The field programmable logic gate array system further comprises: A sampling circuit is used to sample the input / output signals of the peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform, and input the sampled input / output signals of the peripheral interface and the input / output signals of the simulation platform into an external simulation device through a joint test working group connection module for simulation and problem location.
5. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: It also includes a small pluggable optical port connection module for providing a high-speed interconnection interface between the field programmable logic gate array systems; there are multiple field programmable logic gate array systems, and the multiple field programmable logic gate array systems are communicatively connected through the high-speed interconnection interface.
6. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The board-to-board connection module includes a male socket and a female socket, the shapes of the male socket and the female socket match each other, the male socket is connected to the field programmable logic gate array system, and the female socket is connected to the simulation platform.
7. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hardware expansion connection module includes a hardware expansion connector, and the protocol of the hardware expansion connector is adapted to the protocol of the interface card.
8. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The joint test working group connection module includes a joint test working group connector.
9. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power supply protection module includes a power supply circuit and a protection circuit. The power supply circuit is used to provide power for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system, and the protection circuit is used to provide power protection for the hardware expansion connection module and the field programmable logic gate array system.
10. The hardware switching circuit for the adaptive simulation platform according to claim 5, characterized in that: The small pluggable optical port connection module comprises a small pluggable optical port connector.