Dynamic Parameter Discovery in Integrated Circuit Cores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit design faces challenges with cores that have a large number of parameters, making them unwieldy and consuming significant storage space, especially when the number of parameters is unknown or unbounded, leading to tedious and error-prone parameterization.
Innovation Solution
The method involves detecting a super parameter within a core and dynamically creating a data structure with a hierarchy of parameters, allowing the core to be specified in a compact form without enumerating all possible parameters, with the super parameter referencing the data structure, which is generated and updated as needed based on user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all parameters are enumerated in the core definition, then the core can be fully parameterized, but the core size and storage space increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The core parameters are segmented into two categories: those defined within the core itself and those dynamically generated outside the core. This segmentation allows the core to remain compact while still supporting comprehensive parameterization through external data structures that are created only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of super parameters within the core definition, identifying which parameters need to be dynamically generated before the core is instantiated. This preliminary action enables the core to be stored in a compact form while ensuring all necessary parameters will be available when the core is used.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of parameters are included in the core, then the core can handle complex designs, but the core becomes unwieldy to parameterize
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the generation of complex parameters from the core definition itself and moves it to an external data structure creation process. By taking out the parameter generation task from the core, the core remains simple and easy to parameterize, while still being able to handle complex designs through the externally generated data structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting super parameters within the core and autonomously generating the corresponding data structures without requiring manual enumeration by the user. This automated self-service simplifies the parameterization process while maintaining full support for complex parameter sets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of parameters is unknown or unbounded, then the core can be flexible, but it consumes significant storage space to account for all possibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static core definition that would need to account for all possible parameters to a dynamic approach where parameters are generated on-demand. The core contains a super parameter that dynamically references data structures created at runtime based on the specific instantiation needs, allowing flexibility without pre-allocating storage for all possible parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing all possible parameter definitions within the core, the system creates copies of parameter data structures externally when needed. The super parameter in the core references these externally generated copies, allowing the core to support unknown or unbounded numbers of parameters without consuming significant storage space.
Data Source
AI summary
Core processing and parameterization may include detecting, using a processor, a super parameter within a core, and, responsive to the detecting, automatically creating, using the processor, a data structure within a memory element having a hierarchy and having a parameter of the core. The data structure may be set as a value of the super parameter of the core.