Circuit Connectivity Verification Using Abstract Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Verifying connectivity in electronic circuit designs is challenging due to the complexity of interconnecting thousands of components, leading to potential design flaws and costly errors if not detected early.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for defining and verifying connectivity rules between components using regular expressions to generate specific rules, allowing for comprehensive and automatic verification of connectivity within circuit designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual verification of connectivity between thousands of components is performed, then verification accuracy can be maintained, but the time and complexity of the verification process increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an abstract connectivity model that copies the essential connectivity relationships from the complex circuit design. This model uses simplified representations (nets, components, pins) that can be verified automatically without manually examining each connection in the original complex design, thus maintaining verification accuracy while dramatically reducing verification time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with automated computer-based verification. The system uses algorithms to automatically check connectivity rules against the abstract model, substituting human effort with computational processes that can handle thousands of components efficiently while maintaining precision
2Reliability
If detailed connectivity verification is performed on all components, then design flaws can be detected early, but the complexity of the verification system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the verification task into distinct components: abstract model creation, rule definition, and verification execution. By dividing the complex verification process into manageable segments with clear interfaces, the system can detect design flaws reliably while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through modular organization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an abstract connectivity model as an intermediary between the complex circuit design and the verification process. This intermediary layer simplifies the verification task by representing only the essential connectivity relationships, allowing reliable flaw detection without requiring the verification system to directly handle the full complexity of the original design
3Reliability
If comprehensive connectivity rules are defined for all component interactions, then verification coverage is improved, but the difficulty of defining and managing rules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal rule definition framework that can handle multiple types of connectivity rules through a common structure. The rule definition system uses standardized elements (nets, components, pins, connectivity rules) that can be applied universally across different component types and interaction patterns, improving verification coverage while reducing the complexity of defining and managing diverse rules
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product, the method comprising: obtaining circuit information of at least a portion of a circuit design, the circuit information specifying a plurality of components and a plurality of connecting elements connecting components from the plurality of components; receiving a plurality of rule definitions, each rule definition verifying an interaction between one or more first objects and one or more second objects, via one or more connecting elements; obtaining a plurality of specific rules generated upon the plurality of the rule definitions; verifying the specific rules against the circuit information, thereby checking that the first objects have the interaction with the second objects via the one or more connecting elements; and outputting results of verifying the specific rules.