Multi-Voltage Circuit Verification Using Iso-Voltage-Rail Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for verifying multi-voltage electronic circuit designs are inadequate due to a lack of voltage awareness, resulting in inaccurate and time-consuming simulations, which can lead to faulty designs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that segregate design elements into iso-voltage-rail blocks, generate cross-over information, and modify logic signal values based on voltage states to simulate multi-voltage circuit designs accurately and efficiently, considering voltage as a key parameter alongside timing and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional simulation methods are used for multi-voltage circuit verification, then the verification process can be performed, but the simulation accuracy is insufficient and the verification time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit design is segmented into multiple iso-voltage-rail blocks based on voltage rail groupings. Each block contains design elements connected to the same set of voltage rails. This segmentation allows the simulation to process voltage-aware information in organized units, improving accuracy while managing complexity efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
Cross-over information is generated as an intermediary representation between iso-voltage-rail blocks. This cross-over information captures voltage effects and logic signal modifications at block boundaries, enabling accurate voltage-aware simulation without requiring exhaustive analysis of all circuit interactions, thus reducing verification time.
2Measurement precision
If voltage-aware simulation is implemented, then simulation accuracy improves, but the complexity of the verification process increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the circuit into iso-voltage-rail blocks, the complex voltage-aware simulation is divided into manageable segments. Each block can be processed independently with respect to its voltage rails, reducing the overall complexity while maintaining simulation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification process incorporates voltage as an explicit simulation parameter alongside traditional timing and functionality parameters. By changing the simulation to be voltage-aware and using cross-over information to track voltage effects, the process achieves higher accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multi-voltage design is used to optimize power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the difficulty of verifying the design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-voltage design is segmented into iso-voltage-rail blocks that correspond to different power domains. This segmentation makes verification more manageable by allowing independent analysis of each voltage domain while tracking cross-over effects, reducing the overall verification difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
Cross-over information serves as an intermediary that captures the interactions between different voltage domains. By explicitly tracking voltage effects and logic signal modifications at block boundaries, the verification process can accurately verify multi-voltage designs without being overwhelmed by complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-voltage circuit design verification segregates design elements into iso-voltage-rail blocks. Information on cross-over connections between the iso-voltage-rail blocks is obtained. Voltage effects are simulated in the circuit design, and, based on the cross-over information, the simulation results are modified. This yields more accurate results of simulations for multi-voltage circuit designs.