HDL Circuit Debugging via Intermediary Observation Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current debugging methods for electronic circuits described by HDL programs, such as logic analyzers and code-oriented debuggers, are inadequate for complex error detection and diagnosis, as they either provide incomplete timing diagrams or lack the ability to build complex verification scenarios based on signal values.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that incorporate additional circuits within the electronic circuit to activate observation signals and condition signals, allowing for data logging and generating a modified HDL program to facilitate debugging, enabling the display of relevant program references and signal values, and improving code coverage analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a logic analyzer is used to debug electronic circuits, then timing diagrams of signals can be obtained, but the analysis becomes excessively complex for complex electronic circuits and cannot directly identify error locations in the HDL program
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces additional circuits as intermediaries between the HDL program and the debugging tool. These additional circuits include instruction execution detection circuits that generate observation signals when specific HDL instructions are executed, and signal value detection circuits that generate observation signals when signal values meet predetermined conditions. This intermediary layer enables direct correlation between observed events and HDL program locations without requiring complex manual analysis of timing diagrams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the debugging tool receives observation signals from the additional circuits and uses them to automatically identify and report error locations in the HDL program. The tool provides feedback to the user about which specific instruction or signal caused the error, transforming the complex analysis task into an automated feedback-driven debugging process.
2Ease of operation
If a code-oriented debugger is used to debug HDL programs, then error locations in the program can be identified, but the ability to build complex verification scenarios based on signal values is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the debugging functionality into multiple specialized additional circuits, each responsible for detecting specific aspects: instruction execution detection circuits for tracking program flow, signal value detection circuits for monitoring signal states, and condition detection circuits for verifying complex scenarios. This segmentation allows the system to maintain ease of error location identification while gaining versatile verification capabilities through the combination of specialized detection circuits.
3Reliability
If additional circuits are incorporated into the electronic circuit for debugging purposes, then debugging capability is enhanced, but the circuit complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The additional circuits are designed to be self-contained and self-describing. Each additional circuit automatically generates observation signals that directly correspond to their function and location in the HDL program, eliminating the need for external complex analysis infrastructure. The circuits serve themselves by providing ready-to-use debugging information that reduces overall system complexity despite the addition of new components.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for debugging an electronic circuit manufactured based on an initial program in hardware description language comprising an instrumentation unit capable of determining a first additional circuit capable of activating a first observation signal representative of the operation of a portion of the electronic circuit corresponding to a determined portion of the initial program, a second additional circuit capable of receiving at least one input signal and of activating a condition signal when a condition on the input signal is fulfilled, a third additional circuit capable of activating a second observation signal when the condition signal is activated, a fourth additional circuit capable of memorizing data representative of the order of activation of the first and second observation signals and capable of providing a modified program incorporating the additional circuits, and a debugging unit capable of debugging a modified electronic circuit manufactured based on the modified program.