Circuit SCC Replication to Simplify Cyclic Timing Path Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Circuit designs with strongly connected components (SCCs) complicate emulation and verification processes due to cyclical timing paths, leading to computational complexity and potential functional errors.

Innovation Solution

Generate replica SCCs and output support sub-circuits to replace original SCCs, breaking feedback loops while maintaining circuit functionality, thereby reducing emulation and verification complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If strongly connected components are present in circuit design, then circuit functionality is maintained, but emulation and verification complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulation and verification complexityVSAvoidcircuit functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the strongly connected component into multiple parts by introducing pseudo-primitives that divide the cyclic structure into acyclic subgraphs. This segmentation maintains the original circuit's functionality while eliminating the complex cyclic dependencies that cause verification difficulties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces pseudo-primitives as intermediary elements that mediate between the original cyclic structure and the verification process. These pseudo-primitives act as placeholders that preserve the functional behavior of the strongly connected component while allowing standard verification techniques to be applied to the resulting acyclic graph.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If cyclic timing paths are present, then feedback functionality is achieved, but processing time and resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing time and resourcesVSAvoidcyclic timing paths

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the strongly connected component's functionality through pseudo-primitives that replicate the feedback behavior without actually creating cyclic timing paths. The pseudo-primitives copy the essential functional characteristics while presenting an acyclic structure to the verification process, thereby reducing processing time and resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If strongly connected components are used, then circuit design flexibility is maintained, but error potential increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror potentialVSAvoidcircuit design flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pseudo-primitives serve as intermediary elements that preserve the design flexibility of strongly connected components while eliminating error potential. They maintain the functional relationships and feedback mechanisms needed for versatile circuit design, but do so through an acyclic structure that is inherently more reliable and easier to verify.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250265398A1Mitigating effects of cyclic timing paths within a circuit design

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 SYNOPSYS INC

AI summary

Emulating and verifying a circuit design includes obtaining a circuit design. Further, a first strongly connected component within the circuit design is determined and replica strongly connected components and an output support sub-circuit are generated from the first strongly connected component. The circuit design is updated based on the replica strongly connected components and the output support sub-circuit. The updated circuit design is verified by emulating the updated circuit design.