Analog Verification Platform for Mixed-Signal Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of complex analog, mixed-signal, and RF ICs faces challenges due to miscommunication between design teams, incorrect interpretation of specifications, and human errors, leading to design bugs, particularly in the analog section and its interface with digital sections, where existing verification methods are time-consuming and lack automation.
Innovation Solution
A design specifications-driven platform that generates behavioral models and regression tests directly from abstract design specifications, without requiring circuit-specific information or existing implementations, using a code and document generator to produce models, netlists, and simulation scripts, thereby accelerating and improving the verification process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual verification methods are used for analog, mixed-signal, and RF designs, then verification can be performed with existing tools, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human errors
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system automatically generates behavioral models and regression tests from design specifications without requiring manual intervention. The code and document generator autonomously parses specifications, creates corresponding verification artifacts, and executes simulations, eliminating human errors and reducing verification time while maintaining high reliability through automated consistency checking between specifications and implementations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with automated computer-based generation and execution of verification tests. Instead of manually creating behavioral models and regression tests, the system uses automated code generation from specifications, substituting human effort with algorithmic processing that is both faster and more reliable
2Reliability
If comprehensive simulation is performed to verify analog designs, then verification coverage is improved, but simulation time becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential behavioral characteristics from detailed design specifications to create simplified behavioral models. By taking out and isolating the critical functional requirements rather than simulating complete circuit implementations, the system achieves comprehensive verification coverage of design intent while avoiding the prohibitive simulation times associated with detailed analog circuit simulation
Solution Approach 2:
The verification process is segmented into separate components: specification parsing, behavioral model generation, regression test creation, and simulation execution. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational resources on generating verification artifacts from specifications rather than performing exhaustive simulations of entire analog designs, thereby improving coverage efficiency while reducing overall simulation time
3Loss of time
If behavioral models are used to speed up verification, then simulation time is reduced, but consistency between model and design implementation cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where the code and document generator creates behavioral models from specifications, executes regression tests, and automatically checks for consistency between the generated models and the original design specifications. Any discrepancies are detected and reported, ensuring model-design consistency while maintaining the speed benefits of behavioral modeling
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary generation of behavioral models and regression tests directly from design specifications before actual verification simulations. By creating these artifacts in advance with built-in consistency checking, the system ensures that behavioral models accurately reflect design intent before simulations begin, thereby maintaining both speed and reliability
4Manufacturing precision
If detailed design specifications are manually interpreted and implemented, then design accuracy can be maintained, but miscommunication and human errors increase with complex designs
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual interpretation and implementation of detailed design specifications with automated code generation. The code and document generator algorithmically transforms specification documents into behavioral models and verification tests, eliminating human errors in interpretation while maintaining design accuracy. This substitution is particularly effective for complex designs where manual processes are more prone to miscommunication and errors
Data Source
AI summary
A design specifications-driven platform (100) for analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency verification with one embodiment comprising a client (160) and server (150) is presented. The server comprises an analog verification database (110), a code and document generator (1020), a design to specifications consistency checker (103), a symbol generator (104), a coverage analyzer (105), a server interface (106), a web server (111), and an analog verification server application (101). The client comprises a web browser (130), generated datasheets and reports (120), generated models, regression tests, netlists, connect modules, and symbols (121), generated simulation scripts (122), a client interface (124), design data (131), simulators (132), and a design data extractor (123).