吳季恆 張書瑋
摘要 現今許多 IC 設計公司所使用的 multi-supply voltage island(MSV) 和 power gating (PSO) 低功耗設計技 術,即是將晶片上的各個 block 分為 power-on 以及 其他可關閉之 power domain 。而當 block 停止供電 後,會產生訊號不明之問題,因此必須在不同 power domain 相連之間上插入 isolation cell ,以避 免系統接受到錯誤信號而產生錯誤之狀況。然而這 項設計很可能會導致一些常見的故障,因此必須對 整個 IC 的 logic netlist structure 和 low power intent 加以分析並找出不合規範的設計。不過,傳統基於 模擬的驗證方法相當不具彈性同時也缺乏效率,因 此不適合於現今的各種低耗設計技術,取而代之的 是採取 structural checking 的方法來改善驗證設計的 正確性以及效率。
簡介 問題描述 撰寫一個程式,將讀入之電路依照 power intent 中的限 制,在電路中檢查 isolation cell 及 level shifter 的相關 資訊,避免整體的電路設計出現不預期的錯誤。 軟體功能 能夠讀入電路檔 (.v) 、標準元件庫 (.lib) 以及相關的 power intent 限制條件 (.pi) ,並針對電路中的 isolation cell 及 level shifter 進行檢查和分析,以提供使用者辨 別分析的結果是否有符合原先的需求,將所檢查出的 錯誤訊息轉存成 Error Report(.rpt) 檔案後輸出。
程式功能圖例
演算法流程圖 ISO_1: Power of isolation control pin can be shut-off while isolation cell is power-on.
ISO_2: Source and destination domains of the isolation cells are the same.
ISO_3: Isolation instance location does not match isolation rule.
ISO_4: Power domain crossing does not have user-defined isolation cell.
ISO_5: Isolation cell control pin is not connected to the specified signal.
ISO_6: Isolation instance control polarity is different than the specification of isolation rule control.
LS_1: Level shifter input voltage value is different than specified by level shifter definition.
LS_2: Level shifter output voltage value is different than specified by level shifter definition.
LS_3: Power domain crossing does not have user-defined level shifter cell.
LS_4: Source and destination domains of the level shifter cells are the same.
整體程式流程
程式輸出 本程式在完成所有的檢查工作後會將所有的 Error Message 輸出成 Report 檔 (.rpt) ,以下 為三個範例 case1: Level shifter input voltage value is different than specified by level shifter definition [LS_1] [Level shifter input voltage value is different than specified by level shifter definition][Occurrence: 1] - [#1] [Pin 'A' of 'sh0' (module LevLH ) is connected to domain TDON (Power Voltage 1V) Expected voltage domain is 0.8V]
case2: Level shifter output voltage value is different than specified by level shifter definition [LS_2] [Level shifter output voltage value is different than specified by level shifter definition][Occurrence: 1] - [#1] [Pin 'Y' of 'sh1' (module LevLH2 ) is connected to domain TDON2 (Power Voltage 1.2V) Expected voltage domain is 1.5V] case3: Source and receiver signal voltages of level shifter cell are the same in this path [LS_4] [Source and receiver signal voltages of level shifter cell are the same in this path] [Occurrence:2] - [#1] [Level shifter 'sh1' (LevHL) has the same input/output voltage domain in all power modes Input pin driver: u1_1/u_or2/Y Output pin load: u1_2/u_or2/B] [#2] [Level shifter 'sh0' (LevLH) has the same input/output voltage domain in all power modes Input pin driver: u1_1/u_an2/Y Output pin load: u1_2/u_or2/A]
貢獻及成果簡述 此驗證程式能夠有效及正確的檢查所有 的條件限制,在很短的時間及合法使用有 效的記憶體空間內,即可以完成所有的步 驟,並提供相關的訊息給使用者作進一步 的處理。
參考資料 1. Si2 Common Power Format 1.0/ The IEEE Standard B. Kappor, et al., "Tutorial: SoC Power Management Verification and Testing," Microprocessor Test and Verification, Ninth International Workshop on 8-10 Dec Page(s):67 – Cadence Conformal Low Power Reference Manual