Abstract: A system for emulating a circuit design is presented. The system includes a host workstation coupled by an emulation interface to a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to emulate and verify the circuit design when the host workstation is invoked to verify the circuit design. The emulation interface is configured to provide timing and control information for at least the verify. The system further includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed cause a computer to compile a portion of the circuit design and an associated verification module adapted to configure the FPGA. A compilation is performed in accordance with a description file.

Abstract: User's register transfer level (RTL) design is analyzed and instrumented so that signals of interest are preserved and can be located in the netlist after synthesis. Then, the user's original flow of RTL synthesis and design partition is performed. The output is analyzed to locate the signals of interest. Latches are selectively inserted to the netlist to ensure that signal values can be accessed at runtime. After that, a place and route (P&R) process is performed, and the outputs are analyzed to correlate signal names to registers (flip-flops and latches) or memory blocks locations is field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. A correlation database is built and kept for runtime use. During runtime, a software component may be provided on a workstation for the user to query signal values corresponding to RTL hierarchical signal names.

Abstract: User's register transfer level (RTL) design is analyzed and instrumented so that signals of interest are preserved and can be located in the netlist after synthesis. Then, the user's original flow of RTL synthesis and design partition is performed. The output is analyzed to locate the signals of interest. Latches are selectively inserted to the netlist to ensure that signal values can be accessed at runtime. After that, a place and route (P&R) process is performed, and the outputs are analyzed to correlate signal names to registers (flip-flops and latches) or memory blocks locations is field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. A correlation database is built and kept for runtime use. During runtime, a software component may be provided on a workstation for the user to query signal values corresponding to RTL hierarchical signal names.

Abstract: An emulation system integrates multiple custom prototyping boards for emulating a circuit design. A first custom prototyping board including at least one FPGA and an interface connected to a first set of wires coupling to the at least one FPGA. A second custom prototyping board includes at least one second FPGA and an interface connected to a second set of wires coupling to the at least second FPGA. An adaptor board connects to the first custom prototyping board and the second custom prototyping board through the first interface and the second interface. The adapter board controls emulation of the circuit design and controls communication through the partitioned circuit using at least one of the first set of wires and at least one the second set of wires.

Abstract: A system for emulating a circuit design is presented. The system includes a host workstation coupled by an emulation interface to a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to emulate and verify the circuit design when the host workstation is invoked to verify the circuit design. The emulation interface is configured to provide timing and control information for at least the verify. The system further includes computer readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed cause a computer to compile a portion of the circuit design and an associated verification module adapted to configure the FPGA. The compilation is in accordance with a description file.

Abstract: A test system for testing prototype designs includes a host workstation, multiple interface devices, and multiple prototype boards. The prototype boards include programmable devices which implement one or more partitions of a user design and an associated verification modules. The verification modules probe signals of the partitions and transmit the probed signals to the interface devices. The verification modules can also transmit output signals generated by one or more partitions on the prototype boards to the host workstation via the interface devices, and transmit input signals, which are received from the host workstation via the interface devices, to one or more partitions on the prototype boards.

Abstract: An emulation system integrates multiple custom prototyping boards for emulating a circuit design. A first custom prototyping board including at least one FPGA and an interface connected to a first set of wires coupling to the at least one FPGA. A second custom prototyping board includes at least one second FPGA and an interface connected to a second set of wires coupling to the at least second FPGA. An adaptor board connects to the first custom prototyping board and the second custom prototyping board through the first interface and the second interface. The adapter board controls emulation of the circuit design and controls communication through the partitioned circuit using at least one of the first set of wires and at least one the second set of wires.

Abstract: User's register transfer level (RTL) design is analyzed and instrumented so that signals of interest are preserved and can be located in the netlist after synthesis. Then, the user's original flow of RTL synthesis and design partition is performed. The output is analyzed to locate the signals of interest. Latches are selectively inserted to the netlist to ensure that signal values can be accessed at runtime. After that, a place and route (P&R) process is performed, and the outputs are analyzed to correlate signal names to registers (flip-flops and latches) or memory blocks locations in field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. A correlation database is built and kept for runtime use. During runtime, a software component may be provided on a workstation for the user to query signal values corresponding to RTL hierarchical signal names.

Abstract: A method for emulating a circuit design includes receiving, at an emulation interface, signal values associated with probed signals from a verification module of a custom prototype board which can be described by at least one board description file and can comprise at least one field programmable gate array for emulating the circuit design. The method can also include processing, the probed signal values associated with a portion of the circuit design being emulated, the emulation interface being capable of being configured to provide timing and control information to at least the verification module, and can comprise a controller and a memory device, with the controller being capable of being configured to receive the probed signal values. The method can further include storing the processed information and transmitting it to the host workstation.

Abstract: A custom prototyping board and a controller are integrated to form an emulation system for emulating a circuit design. The controller may be disposed on an adaptor board. The custom prototyping board is defined by a set of board description files which further define the FPGA device(s) used in the system as well as the wire connections among the FPGA devices and connectors on the custom prototyping board. The FPGA device(s) is configured in accordance with the partitioned circuit design. Each partitioned circuit in the FPGA device is associated with a verification module for communicating with the controller to control and probe the emulation. A host workstation may be used to link with the controller to support co-simulation or co-emulation of the circuit design.

Abstract: User's RTL design is analyzed and instrumented so that signals of interest are preserved and can be located in the net list after synthesis. Then, the user's original flow of RTL synthesis and design partition is performed. The output is analyzed to locate the signals of interest. Latches are selectively inserted to the net list to ensure that signal values can be accessed at runtime. After that, a P&R process is performed, and the outputs are analyzed to correlate signal names to registers (flip-flops and latches) or memory blocks locations in FPGAs. A correlation database is built and kept for runtime use. During runtime, a software component may be provided on a workstation for the user to query signal values corresponding to RTL hierarchical signal names.

Abstract: A method for emulating a circuit design includes receiving, at an emulation interface, signal values associated with probed signals from a verification module of a custom prototype board which can be described by at least one board description file and can comprise at least one field programmable gate array for emulating the circuit design. The method can also include processing, the probed signal values associated with a portion of the circuit design being emulated, the emulation interface being capable of being configured to provide timing and control information to at least the verification module, and can comprise a controller and a memory device, with the controller being capable of being configured to receive the probed signal values. The method can further include storing the processed information and transmitting it to the host workstation.

Abstract: An apparatus for circuit emulation may include a first circuit board, one or more circuit emulation resource on the first circuit board, a first interconnection interface on the first circuit board, and a second interconnection interface on the first circuit board. The first circuit board may include conductive wiring paths. The circuit emulation resource is on the first circuit board and coupled with a portion of the conductive wiring paths, with each circuit emulation resource being configured to emulate a portion of an electronic circuit by receiving input signals and producing output signals in response to the input signals. The first interconnection interface is on the first circuit board and coupled with at least a first portion of the circuit emulation resource, The first interconnection interface may be configured to couple with an interconnection interface of a second circuit board having a second group of conductive wiring paths and having a second group of circuit emulation resources.

Abstract: An apparatus for circuit emulation may include a first circuit board, one or more circuit emulation resource on the first circuit board, a first interconnection interface on the first circuit board, and a second interconnection interface on the first circuit board. The first circuit board may include conductive wiring paths. The circuit emulation resource is on the first circuit board and coupled with a portion of the conductive wiring paths, with each circuit emulation resource being configured to emulate a portion of an electronic circuit by receiving input signals and producing output signals in response to the input signals. The first interconnection interface is on the first circuit board and coupled with at least a first portion of the circuit emulation resource, The first interconnection interface may be configured to couple with an interconnection interface of a second circuit board having a second group of conductive wiring paths and having a second group of circuit emulation resources.

Abstract: A circuit emulator includes emulation resources programmed to emulate a circuit, a clocking system for clocking logic implemented by the emulation resources, a resource interface circuit, a logic analyzer, and a debugger. The resource interface circuit supplies input signals to the emulation resources, stores data representing behavior of signals generated by the emulation resources produces in response to the input signals and configures operating characteristics of the clocking system. Upon detecting a specified event in the selected signals of the emulation resources, the logic analyzer asserts a trigger signal telling the clocking system to stop clocking the emulation resources.

Abstract: A synthesizer processes a register transfer level (RTL) netlist description of a circuit to produce a non-optimized gate level netlist preserving all signals referenced by the RTL netlist. The gate level netlist is then processed to identify the circuit's memory devices and to determine logical relationships between its internal signals (all signals other than circuit and memory device input and output signals) and its other signals (circuit and memory device input and output signals). The synthesizer then again processes the RTL netlist to produce an optimized gate level netlist that preserves the identified memory devices, but which omits reference to some or all of the internal signals. A circuit verification system then processes the optimized gate level netlist to produce waveform data representing time-varying behavior of the other signals of the circuit.

Abstract: A circuit emulator includes emulation resources programmed to emulate a circuit, a clocking system for clocking logic implemented by the emulation resources, a resource interface circuit, a logic analyzer, and a debugger. The resource interface circuit supplies input signals to the emulation resources, stores data representing behavior of signals generated by the emulation resources produces in response to the input signals and configures operating characteristics of the clocking system. Upon detecting a specified event in the selected signals of the emulation resources, the logic analyzer asserts a trigger signal telling the clocking system to stop clocking the emulation resources.

Abstract: A synthesizer processes a register transfer level (RTL) netlist description of a circuit to produce a non-optimized gate level netlist preserving all signals referenced by the RTL netlist. The gate level netlist is then processed to identify the circuit's memory devices and to determine logical relationships between its internal signals (all signals other than circuit and memory device input and output signals) and its other signals (circuit and memory device input and output signals). The synthesizer then again processes the RTL netlist to produce an optimized gate level netlist that preserves the identified memory devices, but which omits reference to some or all of the internal signals. A circuit verification system then processes the optimized gate level netlist to produce waveform data representing time-varying behavior of the other signals of the circuit.

Abstract: A resource board for a circuit emulator holds programmable logic devices (PLDs) and other emulation resources such as random access memories (RAMs) and employs both hard-wired and network-based virtual signal paths to flexibly route signals between the emulation resources on the resource board and resources mounted on other resource boards, workstations and other external equipment. The resource board also provides the logic and balanced signal paths needed to deliver clock signals to the PLDs and reduces the number of signals needed to communicate with external test equipment by implementing much of the pattern generation and data acquisition functionality needed to test an emulated circuit.

Abstract: Before using a netlist description of an integrated circuit as a basis for programming a circuit emulator, a clock analysis tool analyzes the netlist to identify synchronizing circuits including clocked devices (“clock sinks”) such a flip-flops, registers and latches for synchronizing communication between blocks of logic within the IC. The tool initially classifies the clock signal input to each clock sink according to its clock domain, sub-domain and phase. The tool then classifies each synchronizing circuit according to relationships between the classifications of the clock signals it employs to clock its input and output clock sinks. The tool then determines, based on the classification of each synchronizing circuit, whether the emulator can reliably emulate that synchronizing circuit, or whether the tool should automatically modify the netlist description of the synchronizing circuit so that the emulator can emulate it.