IC Trigger Circuits and Event Counters for Selective Debug Capture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional debug networks in ICs consume resources unnecessarily, are inflexible, and fail to provide meaningful data to users, often requiring extensive regression testing and manual data parsing.

Innovation Solution

A secondary circuit structure separate from the primary circuit structure allows users to selectively monitor resources, define trigger events, and capture relevant data with a trigger circuit and event counters, filtering out irrelevant information and enabling efficient data storage and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a debug network is implemented by sharing configurable circuits with the primary circuit structure, then debug functionality is integrated, but resources available for user design are reduced and the design becomes less sophisticated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebug functionalityVSAvoidresources for user design

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the IC into separate configurable circuit structures: a primary configurable circuit structure for user design and a secondary configurable circuit structure for debug functionality. This segmentation allows each structure to be independently configured and optimized, preventing resource contention while maintaining full debug capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The debug network is extracted from the shared configurable circuits and implemented as a separate secondary configurable circuit structure. This extraction eliminates the resource conflict between debug and user design functions, as the secondary structure has dedicated resources that do not compete with primary user design resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the debug network uses fixed-function circuitry, then resources are dedicated for debugging, but these resources are wasted when debug functionality is not needed and cannot be repurposed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebug functionalityVSAvoidunused resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary circuit structure is configured as a configurable logic circuit rather than fixed-function circuitry, allowing it to be dynamically reconfigured between debug operations and user design operations. This dynamic capability ensures resources are utilized effectively regardless of whether debug functionality is currently needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary configurable circuit structure serves multiple functions: it can be configured for debug operations when needed, and reconfigured for additional user design functionality when debug is not required. This multi-functionality eliminates resource waste by ensuring the dedicated debug resources can be repurposed for productive use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If the debug network reports all data at debug points, then complete debugging information is provided, but users must manually parse through irrelevant data to find error occurrences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebug data completenessVSAvoiddata parsing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger circuit performs preliminary filtering and event detection before data is presented to the user. By evaluating trigger conditions and capturing only relevant events in advance, the system eliminates the need for users to manually parse through irrelevant data, significantly reducing analysis time while maintaining complete information about actual errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger circuit acts as an intermediary between the primary circuit structure and the user interface. It processes raw debug data, applies filtering logic, and presents only meaningful information to users, thereby reducing the information overload while preserving all necessary debugging details.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If changes are made to the core logic functionality or debug network, then functionality is improved, but the entire IC design must be recompiled, downloaded, and loaded creating risk of breaking unrelated logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality improvementVSAvoidcircuit logic integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the IC into independently configurable primary and secondary circuit structures. This segmentation allows changes to be made to one structure without affecting the other, enabling functionality improvements while maintaining the integrity of unrelated logic through isolated configuration changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8295428B2Trigger circuits and event counters for an IC

Publication Date: 2012.10.23 TAHOE RES LTD

AI summary

Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred.