Auxiliary Verification Statement for Power Domain Transitions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for verifying low power designs require modifications to the functional specification, leading to cluttered specifications and increased designer effort, as they need to explicitly state power state information, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Generating an auxiliary verification statement that checks if power domains are active at appropriate times, synthesized based on the device design and power domains, to ensure correct operation and prevent interference with the device's functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing methods for verifying low power designs are used, then power state verification can be performed, but the functional specification becomes cluttered and designer effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The verification process is segmented into two independent parts: the original functional specification remains unchanged, while a separate auxiliary verification statement is generated automatically based on the functional specification and power domain information. This segmentation allows power state verification without cluttering the functional specification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating the auxiliary verification statement from the existing functional specification and power domain definitions. The verification tool itself creates the necessary power state checks without requiring manual intervention or modification of the functional specification, thereby reducing designer effort.
2Reliability
If power state information is explicitly stated in the functional specification, then power state verification is enabled, but verification productivity decreases due to increased designer effort
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system serves itself by automatically generating the auxiliary verification statement from the functional specification and power domain information. This eliminates the need for designers to manually add power state information to the functional specification, thereby maintaining verification reliability while significantly improving verification productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary verification statement is generated in advance based on the functional specification and power domain definitions, before the actual verification process begins. This preliminary action automates what would otherwise be a manual task, improving productivity without compromising the reliability of power state verification.
3Reliability
If manual modification of functional specification is required, then power state information can be verified, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates the auxiliary verification statement without requiring manual modification of the functional specification. This self-service approach eliminates the time-consuming manual process while ensuring that power state verification is performed correctly based on the existing functional specification and power domain information.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary verification statement is generated automatically as a preliminary step before verification execution. This preliminary automated generation eliminates the need for time-consuming manual specification modification while ensuring that all necessary power state information is captured for verification.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations of the invention may be applied to generate an auxiliary verification statement. The auxiliary verification statement defines properties that check if the power domains are active at appropriate times is generated. Particularly, the auxiliary verification statement checks to ensure that power domain transitions do not interfere with the operation of the device design. With various implementations of the invention, an auxiliary verification statement may be generated by first determining a set of properties instantiated in a verification statement and then synthesizing the auxiliary verification statement based upon the determined properties, the corresponding device design and the power domains. In some implementations, the auxiliary verification statement instantiates properties that check if the power domains related to the properties in the verification statement are active when the verifications statement is exercised. In various implementations, this is accomplished by substituting select ones of the properties in the verification statement with select properties corresponding to the power domain.