Including Logic Patents (Class 703/15)
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Patent number: 9589088Abstract: Various example implementations are directed to circuits and methods for partitioning a memory for a circuit design in a programmable IC. A user interface is provided for a user to define subsystems, master circuits, memory segments, and permissions for accessing the memory segments by the master circuits. For each defined memory segment, a respective access control entry is generated that includes data for determining master circuits that are permitted access to the memory segment by the user-defined permissions. A first portion of configuration data is generated that is configured to cause a memory management circuit in the programmable IC to enforce access to address ranges, corresponding to the respective memory segments, in a memory of the programmable IC according to the respective access control entries. A second portion of configuration data is generated that is configured to cause programmable resources of the programmable IC to implement the circuit design.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: XILINX, INC.Inventors: Pradeep Kumar Mishra, Gangadhar Budde, Somdutt Javre, Siddharth Rele
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Patent number: 9507898Abstract: A computer identifies a storage element in a simulation model of an integrated circuit design that, during simulation of the integrated circuit design using the simulation model, is subject to having its value forced. In response to identifying the storage element, an indication of the storage element and the associated clock signal are stored in a database. In response to receiving an input indicating the value of the storage element is to be forced during simulation, a determination is made by reference to the database whether or not forcing of the value is mistimed with reference to the associated clock signal. In response to a determination that the forcing of the value as indicated by the input is mistimed with reference to the associated clock signal, an indication that forcing of the value is mistimed is output.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.Inventors: Santosh Balasubramanian, Aaron C. Brown, David W. Cummings, Ambalath Matayambath Roopesh
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Patent number: 9501608Abstract: Examples of techniques for analyzing and generating timing reports for circuits are described herein. A computer-implemented method includes splitting a netlist or cross section of a circuit into sub-circuits. The method further includes building a timing graph by combining generated timing models of the sub-circuits. The method includes determining a full set of dependencies based on each sub-circuit's dependent configuration parameters. The method also further includes generating a sample plan for each sub-circuit. The method includes receiving results from a simulation for each sub-circuit based on the sample plan for each sub-circuit. The method includes generating algebraic forms for an early delay, a late delay, and a slew by curve fitting across the configuration parameters. The method includes propagating arrival times and slew in algebraic forms throughout the timing graph. The method includes evaluating checks based on selected projections from the timing graph to find a worst slack configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert J. Allen, Yanai Danan, Vasant B. Rao, Xin Zhao
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Patent number: 9483593Abstract: Described is a method performed by a computing device, the method comprises: deriving a hierarchal structure of hardware instances of a hardware block, wherein the hardware block is described in a register transfer language (RTL); determining complexity of at least one hardware instance, in the hierarchal structure, with reference to a complexity metric; identifying, in response to the determined complexity of the at least one hardware instance, whether the at least one hardware instance is to be modeled; and modifying the hierarchal structure with information about the to be modeled hardware instance.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Robert Hartung, Matthias Glueck
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Patent number: 9471726Abstract: Systems and methods for performing multi-message transaction based performance simulations of SoC IP cores within a Network on Chip (NoC) interconnect architecture by accurately imitating full SoC behavior are described. The example implementations involve simulations to evaluate and detect NoC behavior based on execution of multiple transactions at different rates/times/intervals, wherein each transaction can contain one or more messages, with each message being associated with a source agent and a destination agent. Each message can also be associated with multiple parameters such as rate, size, value, latency, among other like parameters that can be configured to indicate the execution of the transaction by a simulator to simulate a real-time scenario for generating performance reports for the NoC interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: NETSPEED SYSTEMSInventors: Sailesh Kumar, Amit Patankar, Eric Norige
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Patent number: 9454466Abstract: A methods, apparatus and product for explaining partially illegal combinations in combinatorial models. The method comprising: obtaining a combinatorial model defining a legal test space, the combinatorial model comprising a set of attributes, a respective domain for each attribute defining possible values for the attribute, and a set of restrictions, wherein the restrictions define a combination of values of the attributes that are illegal and are excluded from the legal test case; obtaining a partially illegal combination defining value assignments to a portion of the attributes; automatically identifying an extension of the partially illegal combination, wherein the extension is excluded from the legal test space, wherein the extension can be modified to become legal by changing a portion of the value assignments defined by the partially illegal combination; and outputting the extension.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.Inventors: Alexander Ivrii, Itai Segall, Rachel Tzoref-Brill
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Patent number: 9411569Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable storage devices for providing a climate data analytic services application programming interface distribution package. The example system can provide various components. The system provides a climate data analytic services application programming interface library that enables software applications running on a client device to invoke the capabilities of a climate data analytic service. The system provides a command-line interface that provides a means of interacting with a climate data analytic service by issuing commands directly to the system's server interface. The system provides sample programs that call on the capabilities of the application programming interface library and can be used as templates for the construction of new client applications. The system can also provide test utilities, build utilities, service integration utilities, and documentation.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: John L. Schnase, Daniel Q. Duffy, Glenn S. Tamkin
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Patent number: 9330757Abstract: An electronic device comprising a semiconductor memory unit that may include a cell array including a plurality of storage cells; a first line connected to one ends of the plurality of storage cells; a second line connected to the other ends of the plurality of storage cells; a first driver connected to one end of the first line at a first contact location on one side of the cell array, and configured to apply a first electrical signal to the one end of the first line; and a second driver connected to one end of the second line at a second contact location on a side of the cell array opposing the side of the cell array where the first contact location is located, and configured to apply a second electrical signal to the one end of the second line.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventor: Dong-Keun Kim
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Patent number: 9300544Abstract: Methods and arrangements for identifying and characterizing subgraphs of a network. In a network comprising a plurality of nodes and edges, there is identified a subgraph including a plurality of nodes. Communication workload closure of the subgraph is calculated via: identifying and counting all length-2 paths in the network that include at least one of the nodes of the subgraph, each length-2 path including three nodes and two edges interconnecting the three nodes; for each of the length-2 paths, determining whether all three nodes belong to the subgraph; thereupon identifying and counting a subset of the length-2 paths wherein, for each path in the subset, all three nodes of the path belong to the subgraph; and dividing the number of paths in the subset by the total number of length-2 paths that include at least one of the nodes of the subgraph. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Seema Nagar, Amit Anil Nanavati, Raghavendra Singh
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Patent number: 9294403Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to techniques for controlling resource utilization with adaptive routing are described. In one embodiment, an output port for transmission of an incoming message that is to be received at an input port is determined at routing logic. The routing logic selects the output port from a first output port and a second output port based on congestion information that is detected at one or more other routing logic communicatively coupled to the routing logic. The first output port provides a deterministic route for the incoming message and the second output port provides an adaptive route for the incoming message. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Andres Mejia, Donglai Dai, Gaspar Mora Porta
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Patent number: 9286181Abstract: A method to produce a description file of Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) capture-shift test data registers to be used to interpret a test result of a memory included in an integrated circuit structure that is configured for testing integrated circuit memory. A computer extracts, from a first data file, the names a memory built in self test instance, a memory built in self test port name, and a name of a first memory. The first data file controls the hierarchical and architectural arrangement of components of an integrated circuit. The first data file describes a hierarchical order of an architectural arrangement of the components, electrical pathways, and connections between the components and the electrical pathways of an integrated circuit design. The computer adds the extracted names into the description file such that the description file is configured to interpret a test result of a memory.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague, Michael A. Ziegerhofer
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Patent number: 9176839Abstract: The various embodiments herein provide a method and a system for providing a bus transaction monitoring and debugging using FPGA. The system comprises a first FPGA, a second FPGA, application software and a communication interface to connect the second FPGA with the application software. The second FPGA comprises a monitor RTL for tapping data signals from different levels of the first FPGA, a transaction based signal trigger for capturing the signals tapped at different levels of the RTL, a monitor data interface for storing the data signals of interest and a packetizer for converting the signals to a plurality of data packets and transmit the data packets to the application software. The application software decodes the transmitted data packets and displays the transactions on a waveform viewer by communicating the information related to the data packets using a plurality of communication protocols.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: WHIZCHIP DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD.Inventors: Ravishankar Rajarao, Senthil Kumar Balan
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Patent number: 9166886Abstract: A system determines a physical topology of a network including a plurality of nodes. Each node includes a multi-chip higher-tier switch, and each chip in the multi-chip higher-tier switch includes a plurality of ports. A network configuration module is configured to assign physical connections to respective ports of chips of the higher-tier switches through an iterative process. The iterative process includes selecting a first route of a plurality of routes, assigning for the source node of the selected route, a first port on a first chip having an odd number of free ports. For at least one intermediate node of the selected route, second and third ports on a second chip having an even number of free ports are assigned. For a destination port for the selected route, a fourth port on a third chip having an odd number of free ports is assigned.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Abdul Kabbani, Amin Vahdat
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Patent number: 9116720Abstract: In one embodiment, a decision tree is evaluated in interpreted mode while statistics are collected. The decision tree is then represented as source code, and each decision in the decision tree is annotated with instructions determined based on the collected statistics. The source code is compiled into machine code, and the machine code is optimized based on the instructions annotating each decision in the decision tree.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey S. Dunn, Rafael L. Sagula
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Patent number: 9081925Abstract: A method of estimating performance of a design can include selecting a segment of the design for hardware emulation within an emulation system implemented within an integrated circuit. The emulation system can include a generic accelerator coupled to a processor of the integrated circuit. The method further can include modifying the design, using a processor of a host system, to invoke the generic accelerator in lieu of executing the selected segment within the processor of the emulation system during emulation.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: XILINX, INC.Inventors: Paul R. Schumacher, Graham F. Schelle, Patrick Lysaght
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Patent number: 9064075Abstract: A device receives information associated with a functional model, and generates the functional model based on the received information and with a technical computing environment (TCE), where the functional model including nodes, inputs, and outputs. The device also automatically detects architecture information from an architecture model associated with the functional model, and automatically assigns, based on the architecture information, at least one signal between two nodes of the functional model, a node and an input of the functional model, or a node and an output of the functional model. The device obtains information for code generation based on the assigned at least one signal, and stores the information for code generation.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.Inventors: Katalin M. Popovici, Rajiv Ghosh-Roy, Zhihong Zhao, Hidayet Tunc Simsek, Ramamurthy Mani
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Patent number: 9002693Abstract: First and second field programmable gate arrays are provided which implement first and second blocks of a circuit design to be simulated. The field programmable gate arrays are operated at a first clock frequency and a wire like link is provided to send a plurality of signals between them. The wire like link includes a serializer, on the first field programmable gate array, to serialize the plurality of signals; a deserializer on the second field programmable gate array, to deserialize the plurality of signals; and a connection between the serializer and the deserializer. The serializer and the deserializer are operated at a second clock frequency, greater than the first clock frequency, and the second clock frequency is selected such that latency of transmission and reception of the plurality of signals is less than the period corresponding to the first clock frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sameh Asaad, Mohit Kapur, Benjamin D. Parker
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Patent number: 8996435Abstract: A method, apparatus and product for determining invariants in a model. One exemplary embodiments is a computer-implemented method performed by a computerized device, comprising: obtaining a set of candidates of invariants with respect to a model, the model comprising a transition relation axiom and an initial axiom; for substantially each candidate, adding to the model a first auxiliary variable, the first auxiliary variable is defined to be implied from the candidate being held in a predetermined cycle; iteratively trying to prove an inductive step with respect to a subset of the candidates, wherein in response to determining that a candidate is not held inductively removing the candidate from the subset of the candidates, wherein determining which candidate is not held inductively is performed based on values of the first auxiliary variables.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Alexander Ivrii, Sharon Keidar-Barner, Arie Matsliah
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Patent number: 8983632Abstract: A system having a function block execution framework. Function blocks may be for use in a control system design. These blocks may be selected from a library of a function block engine. Selected function blocks may be executed for operational purposes. They may be continuously executed by a processor to maintain operational status. However, since a function block engine and a resulting system of function blocks may be operated with battery power, executions of function blocks may be reduced by scheduling the executions of function blocks to times only when they are needed. That means that the processor would not necessarily have to operate continuously to maintain continual execution of the function blocks and thus could significantly reduce consumption of battery power.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Paul Wacker, Ralph Collins Brindle, Shilpa Anand
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Patent number: 8954909Abstract: A system and methods are provided for verifying a hardware design for an electronic circuit. The method may include: providing a hardware design description for the electronic circuit; extracting a set of design constraints from the hardware design description, where the set of design constraints represents the electronic circuit in terms of signals and logical operations performed on the signals; creating an abstraction model from the set of design constraints, where the abstraction model abstracts one or more of the logical operations in the set of design constraints by replacing the abstracted logical operations with uninterpreted functions; and property checking the abstraction model in relation to one or more design properties. When a violation in the electronic circuit is detected by the property checking step, the feasibility of the violation is then checked and, if the violation is deemed infeasible, the abstraction model is refined.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Zaher Andraus, Karem A. Sakallah, Mark Liffiton
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Patent number: 8949493Abstract: Various structures and methods are disclosed related to configurable scrambling circuitry. Embodiments can be configured to support one of a plurality of protocols. Some embodiments relate to a configurable multilane scrambler that can be adapted either to combine scrambling circuits across a plurality of lanes or to provide independent lane-based scramblers. Some embodiments are configurable to select a scrambler type. Some embodiments are configurable to adapt to one of a plurality of protocol-specific scrambling polynomials. Some embodiments relate to selecting between least significant bit (“LSB”) and most significant bit (“MSB”) ordering of data. In some embodiments, scrambler circuits in each lane are adapted to handle data that is more than one bit wide.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Altera CorporationInventors: Curt Wortman, Chong H. Lee, Huy Ngo
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Patent number: 8914272Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for visualizing sensitivity information in integrated circuit (IC) design are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A plurality of sensitivity information corresponding to a first component in the IC design is received, wherein the plurality of sensitivity information includes a first sensitivity information indicating a first variation in a first electrical characteristic of a group of components as a result of a variation in an electrical characteristic of the first component. A plurality of aspects of the first sensitivity information are rendered in visual form to form a first visualization. The first visualization is presented on a schematic view of the IC design in an IC design tool such that the first sensitivity information is visually associated with the first component in the IC design.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Anne Elizabeth Gattiker, Sani Richard Nassif
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Patent number: 8903098Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal processing apparatus and method, a program, and a data recording medium configured such that the playback level of an audio signal can be easily and effectively enhanced without requiring prior analysis. An analyzer 21 generates mapping control information in the form of the root mean square of samples in a given segment of a supplied audio signal. A mapping processor 22 takes a nonlinear function determined by the mapping control information taken as a mapping function, and conducts amplitude conversion on a supplied audio signal using the mapping function. In this way, by conducting amplitude conversion of an audio signal using a nonlinear function that changes according to the characteristics in respective segments of an audio signal, the playback level of an audio signal can be easily and effectively enhanced without requiring prior analysis. The present invention may be applied to portable playback apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
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Patent number: 8903699Abstract: A computer-implemented method of finite state machine using constraint relaxation. A first expression having a plurality of variables is accessed. A second expression is accessed that describes a constraint with respect to a first variable of the plurality of variables. At least one of the variables from the second expression is eliminated to create a third expression with the constraint relaxed. The third expression is applied to the first expression to determine a finite state machine for the first expression.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventor: Niels Vanspauwen
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Patent number: 8893073Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for creating, editing, and viewing a floorplan of a circuit design. Specifically, some embodiments enable a user to perform a graphical operation at an inference point in a circuit design layout, wherein the location of the inference point is determined based on existing graphical objects in the circuit design layout. Some embodiments substantially instantaneously update a congestion indicator in a circuit design layout in response to modifying the circuit design layout. Some embodiments substantially instantaneously update pin locations of a block or partition in response to changing the size or shape of the block or partition. Some embodiments enable a user to view a circuit design layout based on the logical hierarchy, and also based on at least one additional attribute type such as voltage, power, or clock domain.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Balkrishna R. Rashingkar, David L. Peart, Russell Segal, Douglas Chang, Ksenia Roze
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Patent number: 8893067Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a technique of, and system for simulating, verifying, inspecting, characterizing, determining and/or evaluating the lithographic designs, techniques and/or systems, and/or individual functions performed thereby or components used therein. In one embodiment, the present invention is a system and method that accelerates lithography simulation, inspection, characterization and/or evaluation of the optical characteristics and/or properties, as well as the effects and/or interactions of lithographic systems and processing techniques.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Jun Ye, Yen-Wen Lu, Yu Cao, Luoqi Chen, Xun Chen
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Publication number: 20140278329Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to techniques for modeling content-addressable memory for emulation. An emulation device according to various embodiments of the invention comprises one or more memory modeling blocks reconfigurable to emulate a content-addressable memory or a random-access memory. The emulation device may be processor-based or FPGA-based. Each of the one or more memory modeling blocks comprises memory circuitry and a dedicated comparison unit configured to compare a search word or a portion of a search word received by the each of the one or more memory modeling blocks with data stored in the memory circuitry. The comparison unit may comprise a comparator and a register coupled to the comparator and configured to store matching data. The matching data may be unencoded matching data. A plurality of the memory modeling blocks may be programmable to emulate a single content-addressable memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: MENTOR GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Charles Selvidge, Yuewei Liu
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Patent number: 8838431Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for generating dataflow-driven simulation code of a circuit design described with a combination of first and second HDLs. The circuit description is elaborated and a simulation dataflow graph of the circuit description is generated. Simulation code, configured to model execution of the design in a data-driven manner according to the simulation dataflow graph, is generated from the dataflow graph using a first HDL signal representation having a format compatible with the first HDL and a second HDL signal representation having a format compatible with the second HDL. For each instantiated module of the circuit description at a cross language boundary in the simulation dataflow graph, ports of the instantiated module are mapped to the first HDL signal representation and mapped to the second HDL signal representation.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventors: Valeria Mihalache, Hem C. Neema, Kumar Deepak, Sonal Santan
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Patent number: 8832636Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium stores therein a verification support program that causes a computer to execute identifying from a finite state machine model related to a circuit-under-test, an input count of transitions to a transition-end state and an output count of transitions from the transition-end state; determining the transition-end state to be a record/restore subject, if the identified output transition>the identified input transition count; embedding record-instruction information causing the record/restore subject to be recorded to a database, if a first element causing transition to the record/restore subject is included in a first test scenario that is in a test scenario group related to the circuit-under-test; and embedding restore-instruction information causing the record-restore subject to be restored from the database, if a second element causing transition to the record-restore subject is included in a series of elements making up a second test scenario that is inType: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Ryosuke Oishi, David Thach, Yutaka Tamiya
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Patent number: 8825464Abstract: One particular implementation takes the form of an apparatus or method for parallelizing a sequential power simulation of an integrated circuit device. The implementation may temporally divide the simulation so that separate time segments of the simulation can be run at the same time, thereby reducing he required time necessary to perform the power simulation. More particularly, a logic simulation may be performed on the integrated circuit and snapshots of the logic devices of the integrated circuit may be taken at a specified period. The separate time segments of the simulation may then be simulated in a parallel manner to simulate power consumption of the integrated circuit. Performing the power simulation on the separate time segments may reduce the required time of a typical power consumption simulation of an integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2008Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.Inventor: Vijay S. Srinivasan
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Patent number: 8826217Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for optimizing a circuit design by using a numerical solver. The gates sizes are optimized by modeling a set of gate optimization problems and solving the set of gate optimization problems by using a numerical solver. The optimization can be performed iteratively, wherein in each iteration a gate optimization problem can be modeled for the portion of the circuit design based on circuit information for the portion of the circuit design. An objective function can be created, wherein the objective function includes at least one penalty function that imposes a lower and/or upper bound on at least one variable that is being optimized. In some embodiments, gradients of the objective function, which includes the penalty function, can be computed to enable the use of a conjugate-gradient-based numerical solver.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Amir H. Mottaez, Mahesh A. Iyer
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Publication number: 20140236563Abstract: Provided is an integrated circuit simulation method. The simulation time points of the entire circuit are divided into a plurality of independent simulation time windows, and according to a logic simulation result, the simulation initial data of the simulation window starting point of each simulation time window is determined, and as an overlapping time region is present at the head-tail connection between adjacent simulation time windows, the circuit simulation calculation of the current simulation time window can be ended at the overlapping time region, so as to implement independent parallel simulation calculation for each simulation time window. Therefore, the time required for the simulation of the entire circuit is approximately the maximum value of the circuit simulation time required for each simulation time window, thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of circuit simulation and effectively shortening the design period of the integrated circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Yuping Wu, Lan Chen
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Patent number: 8812287Abstract: A method and device for preserving the wired-OR nature of the clock signal connection between two devices without a direct analog connection between the lines and in an infinitely scalable fashion. The method includes detecting a logic state at a first connector and a second connector and driving an appropriate connector of the device to an active state in response to determining that a connector is driving an active state. The device includes first and second connectors for communicating logic states and driving active states in response to detected logic states.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Daniel J Barus
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Patent number: 8798981Abstract: A method for simulating a response of a circuit to an ESD input stimulus applied to the circuit includes the steps of: receiving a description of the circuit into a circuit simulation program, the circuit including at least one mutual inductance element indicative of magnetic coupling in the circuit; generating a linear approximation of nonlinear elements in the circuit at respective DC bias points of the nonlinear elements; obtaining a frequency domain transfer function of the circuit; obtaining a time domain impulse response of the circuit as a function of the frequency domain transfer function; integrating the time domain impulse response to yield a step response of the circuit, the step response being indicative of a response of the circuit to the ESD input stimulus; and analyzing the step response of the circuit to determine whether the circuit will operate within prescribed parameters corresponding to the circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2008Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: LSI CorporationInventors: Choshu Ito, William Loh
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Patent number: 8788255Abstract: A delay analysis device composed of a storage device and a data processing device analyzes a chip fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit. Delay calculation is performed via an RC simulation with reference to a layout-implemented macro net list, macro layout data, and a cell timing library, thus producing macro delay information. An initial stage of a macro is annotated by the global clock path delay information including the edge information so as to produce a global clock delay-annotated macro net list, which is then converted into a macro delay-annotated net list. Based on the macro delay-annotated net list and timing constraint, the delay analysis device calculates delay times of signal paths and clock paths as well as clock skews with a high precision. It checks whether or not the relationship between the delay times of signal paths and clock paths meets the timing constraint, thus producing delay analysis information.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Koji Kanno
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Patent number: 8782585Abstract: Methods and systems for improving the reliability of C4 solder ball contacts performed at the design stage to reduce the incidence of thermally-induced failures, including those due to electromigration and thermal cycling.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventor: Matthew Guthaus
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Patent number: 8775147Abstract: An algorithm and architecture are disclosed for performing multi-argument associative operations. The algorithm and architecture can be used to schedule operations on multiple facilities for computations or can be used in the development of a model in a modeling environment. The algorithm and architecture resulting from the algorithm use the latency of the components that are used to process the associative operations. The algorithm minimizes the number of components necessary to produce an output of multi-argument associative operations and also can minimize the number of inputs each component receives.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.Inventors: Alireza Pakyari, Brian K. Ogilvie
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Patent number: 8775150Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically creating an implicit literal value in a user defined enumerated data type by inserting an additional literal value, scanning the HDL design files for broken interdependencies or potential incompatibilities with the implicitly defined literal value, and modifying the HDL design files to be in accordance with the implicitly defined literal value while maintaining the semantics of the VHDL language reference model.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Kanungo, Phil Giangarra, Yonghao Chen, Franz Erich Marschner
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Patent number: 8775149Abstract: A method and mechanism for implementing a general purpose scripting language that supports parallel execution is described. In one approach, parallel execution is provided in a seamless and high-level approach rather than requiring or expecting a user to have low-level programming expertise with parallel processing languages/functions. Also described is a system and method for performing circuit simulation. The present approach provides methods and systems that create reusable and independent measurements for use with circuit simulators. Also disclosed are parallelizable measurements having looping constructs that can be run without interference between parallel iterations. Reusability is enhanced by having parameterized measurements. Revisions and history of the operating parameters of circuit designs subject to simulation are tracked.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth S. Kundert
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Patent number: 8775993Abstract: A design system for designing an integrated circuit that includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions to generate and edit a schematic of the integrated circuit, generate at least one recommended layout parameter of an integrated circuit device within the integrated circuit, extract the at least one recommended layout parameter during a layout stage of the integrated circuit, and calculate a circuit performance parameter of the integrated circuit using the at least one recommended layout parameter, and a user interface configured to display at least one of the circuit performance parameter and layout constraints of the integrated circuit device of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mu-Jen Huang, Yu-Sian Jiang, Chien-Wen Chen
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Patent number: 8775985Abstract: A method and system to automate scan synthesis at register-transfer level (RTL). The method and system will produce scan HDL code modeled at RTL for an integrated circuit modeled at RTL. The method and system comprise computer-implemented steps of performing RTL testability analysis, clock-domain minimization, scan selection, test point selection, scan repair and test point insertion, scan replacement and scan stitching, scan extraction, interactive scan debug, interactive scan repair, and flush/random test bench generation. In addition, the present invention further comprises a method and system for hierarchical scan synthesis by performing scan synthesis module-by-module and then stitching these scanned modules together at top-level. The present invention further comprises integrating and verifying the scan HDL code with other design-for-test (DFT) HDL code, including boundary-scan and logic BIST (built-in self-test).Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Syntest Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Laung-Terng Wang, Xiaoqing Wen
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Patent number: 8768679Abstract: A computer-implemented method that simulates NPskew effects on a combination NFET (Negative Field Effect Transistor)/PFET (Positive Field Effect Transistor) semiconductor device using slew perturbations includes performing a timing test by a computing device, by: (1) evaluating perturb slews in Strong N/Weak P directions on the combination semiconductor device for a timing test result; (2) evaluation perturb slews in Weak N/Strong P directions on the combination semiconductor device for a timing test result; and (3) evaluating unperturbed slews in a balanced condition on the combination semiconductor device for a timing test result. After each test is performed, a determination is made as to which evaluation of the perturbed and unperturbed slews produces a most conservative timing test result for the combination semiconductor device. An NPskew effect adjusted timing test result is finally output based on determining the most conservative timing test result.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nathan C. Buck, Brian M. Dreibelbis, John P. Dubuque, Eric A. Foreman, Peter A. Habitz, Jeffrey G. Hemmett, Natesan Venkateswaran, Chandramouli Visweswariah, Xiaoyue X. Wang
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Patent number: 8762123Abstract: A system and method for performing circuit simulation is described. The present approach provides methods and systems that create reusable and independent measurements for use with circuit simulators. Also disclosed are parallelizable measurements having looping constructs that can be run without interference between parallel iterations. Reusability is enhanced by having parameterized measurements. Revisions and history of the operating parameters of circuit designs subject to simulation are tracked. Mechanisms are provided that allow for viewing, measurement or other manipulation of signals at specific locations in a circuit design for simulation, such as parameters that include observation points which are implemented using probes. One approach to executing a measurement is via a controllable and flexible control statement, which in one embodiment is the “run” statement. Improved interfaces for viewing, controlling, and manipulating simulations and simulation results are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth S. Kundert
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Patent number: 8751993Abstract: A method of designing a microwave filter using a computerized filter optimizer, comprises generating a filter circuit design in process (DIP) comprising a plurality of circuit elements having a plurality of resonant elements and one or more non-resonant elements, optimizing the DIP by inputting the DIP into the computerized filter optimizer, determining that one of the plurality of circuit elements in the DIP is insignificant, removing the one insignificant circuit element from the DIP, deriving a final filter circuit design from the DIP, and manufacturing the microwave filter based on the final filter circuit design.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Resonant LLCInventors: Neal Fenzi, Kurt Raihn
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Publication number: 20140149100Abstract: A method for designing electronic equipment comprising at least one electronic component. The component executes a dynamic application and is subjected to disruptions. The software application utilizes internal elements of the component. The method comprises a stage for characterizing a sensitivity parameter of the component to the disruptions. The stage comprises the step of executing the software application on a device configured to reproduce the operation of the component, and performance related signals are monitored, during the execution of the software application, to access the predetermined component elements. A dwell time of the software application in the component elements are deduced from the monitoring of the performance related signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: EUROPEAN AERONAUTIC DEFENCE AND SPACE COMPANY EADS FRANCEInventors: Antonin Bougerol, Sabrine Houssany
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Patent number: 8738349Abstract: Techniques for simulating operation of a connectivity level description of an integrated circuit design are provided, for example, to simulate logic elements expressed through a netlist description. The techniques utilize a host processor selectively partitioning and optimizing the descriptions of the integrated circuit design for efficient simulation on a parallel processor, more particularly a SIMD processor. The description may be segmented into cluster groups, for example macro-gates, formed of logic elements, where the cluster groups are sized for parallel simulation on the parallel processor. Simulation may occur in an oblivious as well as event-driven manner, depending on the implementation.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Valeria Bertacco, Debapriya Chatterjee, Andrew Deorio
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Patent number: 8738350Abstract: A method of simulating a design described in HDL is provided. In this method, modules of the design can be partitioned into first modules for simulation by a serial simulation engine and second modules for simulation by a concurrent simulation engine. The first and second modules can be prioritized for simulation based on classes of events consistent with an execution model of the HDL. Simulations of the serial and concurrent simulation engines can be synchronized for each class of events. Synchronizing can include transferring updated interface variable values, which are shared by the second modules and at least a subset of the first modules, between the serial simulation engine and the concurrent simulation engine. This transferring can include translating representations of the updated interface variable values.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Keith Whisnant, Claudio Basile, Giacinto Paolo Saggese
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Patent number: 8738348Abstract: A method and mechanism for implementing a general purpose scripting language that supports parallel execution is described. In one approach, parallel execution is provided in a seamless and high-level approach rather than requiring or expecting a user to have low-level programming expertise with parallel processing languages/functions. Also described is a system and method for performing circuit simulation. The present approach provides methods and systems that create reusable and independent measurements for use with circuit simulators. Also disclosed are parallelizable measurements having looping constructs that can be run without interference between parallel iterations. Reusability is enhanced by having parameterized measurements. Revisions and history of the operating parameters of circuit designs subject to simulation are tracked.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth S. Kundert
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Patent number: 8725486Abstract: A processor simulation technique to evaluate the performance of a processor that executes application programs is provided. The processor simulation technique may be used to optimize the execution of an application program. A simulator of a reconfigurable processor including a plurality of functional units models a processor by representing routing paths between functional units that generate operands and functional units that consume the operands. The size of each queue may be decided based on information regarding routing delays between functional units and stage information of iteration loops according to modulo scheduling received from a scheduler. A modeling code DB that stores host-oriented binary codes for operations of routing queues is also provided. The simulation may be performed by executing a host-directed binary code corresponding to a binary file instead of the binary file.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tae-Wook Oh, Soo-Jung Ryu, Yoon-Jin Kim, Woong Seo, Young-Chul Cho, Il-Hyun Park
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Patent number: 8725485Abstract: A simulation method and apparatus including a restore point setting unit setting restore points in core models for executing threads using parallel processing. The method also includes storing information for reproducing a state the core models at the restore points.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2008Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Spansion LLCInventors: Masato Tatsuoka, Atsushi Ike