Instrumentation-Assisted Emulation Debug for Mixed Abstraction Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing debugging tools for aspect-oriented hardware with mixed levels of abstraction lack efficiency in instrumentation-assisted emulation, particularly in facilitating collaboration and reproducibility across disjoint tools and mixed languages.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for instrumentation-assisted debugging that compiles a hardware design, generates code for the hardware design and debug assist elements, feeds the code into a vendor emulation flow, and transforms the output waveform into a logic simulation waveform compatible with HDL, using debug assist elements for hardware logic debugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vendor emulation flow is used for hardware debugging, then debugging speed is improved, but waveform compatibility with HDL tools deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a waveform translation intermediary that converts vendor emulation waveforms into HDL-compatible format. This mediator component enables compatibility between different debugging ecosystems without sacrificing the speed benefits of vendor emulation tools, allowing seamless integration of emulation output with traditional HDL debugging workflows.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple disjoint debugging tools are used for mixed language hardware, then debugging coverage is improved, but tool integration and collaboration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple disjoint debugging tools into a unified debugging platform that supports mixed language hardware (Verilog, VHDL, SystemVerilog). By combining the capabilities of different vendor tools and HDL debuggers into a single integrated environment, the system achieves comprehensive debugging coverage while eliminating the complexity of tool integration and collaboration.
Solution Approach 2:
The debugging platform is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple hardware description languages and abstraction levels within a single toolchain. This multi-functional approach allows users to debug mixed-language designs without needing separate specialized tools for each language or vendor, simplifying the overall debugging workflow.
3Ease of operation
If instrumentation elements are added to hardware design, then debugging capability is improved, but hardware design complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts instrumentation functionality into separate, modular debug assist elements that can be selectively integrated into the hardware design. Rather than embedding debugging capabilities throughout the entire design, the system isolates instrumentation functions into discrete components that can be added or removed based on debugging needs, minimizing impact on the core hardware design.
Solution Approach 2:
The debugging instrumentation is segmented into modular components that can be independently configured and integrated at different levels of the hardware design hierarchy. This segmentation allows debugging capabilities to be added in a structured, organized manner without creating monolithic complexity in the overall hardware design.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for instrumentation-assisted debugging is provided. The computer-implemented method includes compiling a hardware design to generate a compiled design, generating, from the compiled design, code for the hardware design and debug assist elements, feeding the code into a vendor emulation flow that outputs a vendor waveform and transforming the vendor waveform into a logic simulation waveform that is compatible with a hardware design language (HDL) using the debug assist elements for hardware logic debugging.