Tunable Ethernet IC Region via Selective Logic Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers requiring customized Ethernet networking solutions for high-performance communication, particularly in low latency and real-time applications, face challenges due to the significant time and technical expertise needed to develop optimized Ethernet sub-circuits that meet timing, latency, size, and power consumption requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method involving modeling an Ethernet sub-circuit as RTL code, where sequential logic is selectively bypassed or enabled based on timing and scaling parameters, allowing for optimized latency, power consumption, and size through synthesis and netlist generation, using a processor and synthesis tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a vendor develops a customized Ethernet sub-circuit design to meet customer timing and performance requirements, then the communication performance and latency are optimized, but the development time and technical expertise required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The Ethernet sub-circuit is divided into multiple independent logic stages (first stage sequential logic, first stage combinational logic, second stage sequential logic, second stage combinational logic) that can be independently configured and optimized. This segmentation allows the synthesis tool to selectively bypass or enable specific stages based on timing parameters, achieving performance optimization without requiring complete redesign of the entire circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates dynamic configuration capabilities where the synthesis tool can selectively bypass or enable sequential logic stages based on input timing parameters. This dynamic approach allows the same RTL code to be synthesized into different circuit configurations optimized for different timing requirements, eliminating the need for multiple custom designs.
2Loss of time
If the Ethernet sub-circuit is optimized for lower latency, then real-time performance improves, but the circuit complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The synthesis tool accepts timing parameters as input and uses these parameters to determine which logic stages to bypass or enable. By changing the timing parameter values, the same RTL code can be synthesized into circuits with different latency characteristics, allowing optimization for low-latency applications without increasing inherent circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design extracts only the necessary logic stages needed to meet the timing requirements. The synthesis tool can selectively bypass sequential logic stages that are not needed for the target timing, effectively removing unnecessary complexity from the final circuit while maintaining the required performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple customized Ethernet sub-circuit designs are developed for different customers, then specific performance requirements are met, but the overall development productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal RTL code design serves multiple customization needs by accepting different timing parameters as input. The synthesis tool processes these parameters to generate optimized circuits for various performance requirements, allowing one design to fulfill multiple customer specifications without requiring separate development efforts for each customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The synthesis tool automatically configures the circuit based on the input timing parameters without requiring manual intervention or expert design effort. The tool self-adjusts the circuit configuration by selectively bypassing or enabling logic stages, enabling rapid generation of customized designs for different customers with varying requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method, non-transitory medium, and system of a tunable design of an Ethernet region of an integrated circuit (IC). In one embodiment, a method comprises modeling a design abstraction of an Ethernet sub-circuit of an integrated circuit as a register transfer level (RTL) code within a data processing device, wherein a first stage of sequential logic in the RTL code is associated with a first stage of combinational logic in the RTL code. The method further comprises implementing, through a processor and based on a timing parameter input into a synthesis tool associated with the RTL code, a selective bypass or a selective enablement of the first stage of sequential logic. Still further, the method comprises synthesizing, through the processor, a netlist from the RTL code, wherein the first stage of sequential logic is sequentially bypassed or sequentially enabled.