Electronic Design Verification Sensitivity Path Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic design verification methods struggle to provide clear guidance on why a property violation occurs, often leading designers to focus on specific examples rather than general causes, and fail to distinguish between contributing and non-contributing elements in complex designs.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for electronic design verification that generates sensitivity paths and applies depth and breadth analyses to identify the cause of property violations, allowing for graphical representation and interactive exploration of the design, including zooming and collapsing features to visualize cause coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing verification methods break down the high level problem into specific signal values in violation traces, then detailed analysis capability is improved, but the big picture understanding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the design into sensitivity paths that connect inputs to property violations. By dividing the design into these causal paths, the system maintains both detailed analysis capability (examining specific signals along each path) and big picture understanding (seeing how multiple paths contribute to the overall violation). This segmentation allows designers to analyze individual paths without losing context of the complete violation scenario.
2Measurement precision
If existing methods focus on specific example violations, then detailed trace analysis is improved, but general cause identification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensitivity path analysis serves multiple functions: it provides detailed trace analysis for specific violations while simultaneously identifying general causes by showing which inputs and logic elements appear across multiple violation paths. The same sensitivity path infrastructure supports both specific example analysis and general pattern recognition, making the verification process adaptable to different analysis needs.
3Quantity of substance
If existing methods analyze all signals in a violation trace, then comprehensive coverage is improved, but identification of actual causing elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant signals that form the sensitivity paths from the complete set of signals in a violation trace. By taking out and analyzing only those signals that lie on causal paths from inputs to property violations, the system achieves precise cause identification without being overwhelmed by comprehensive but irrelevant signal analysis. This extraction focuses computational effort on the actual causing elements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for electronic design verification. Embodiments may include receiving, using at least one processor, an electronic design and identifying at least one property violation associated with the electronic design. Embodiments may further include generating a sensitivity path from an input to the at least one property violation. Embodiments may also include analyzing the electronic design to identify one or more of a portion of the electronic design that caused the at least one property violation, a portion of the electronic design that did not cause the at least one property violation, and a portion of the electronic design that has not been analyzed. Embodiments may further include applying at least one of a depth analysis and a breadth analysis to the sensitivity path.