Debugging SystemVerilog Constraint Randomization: A Comprehensive Guide


SystemVerilog constraint randomization is a powerful methodology for generating realistic and diverse test scenarios in the realm of hardware design verification. However, like any complex methodology, it can sometimes be challenging to debug when an unexpected issue arises. In this article, we will explore common debug techniques and strategies to help you effectively troubleshoot your SystemV... » read more

Rapid Timing Constraints Signoff With Automated Constraint Management


Signoff of a system on chip (SoC) or IP design has multiple aspects, but often timing closure is the most challenging. Early use of a static timing analysis (STA) tool is clearly important, and such a tool must be tied closely into the logic synthesis process to make it more likely that the generated gate-level netlist will meet the desired timing. Power, performance, and area (PPA) goals can o... » read more

Automated Constraint Management For Faster Designer Productivity


Constraints management helps shorten the designer’s manual constraints transformation effort across the design cycle with automated constraints management flows. The management of constraints refers to tasks that are not associated with verifying the correctness of constraints, nor associated with the generation of constraints, but with the transformation of constraints from one form to anoth... » read more

SystemVerilog Constraints


This paper looks at two of the most common issues when constraint solver results do not match your intent: Not understanding how Verilog expression evaluation rules apply to interpret the rules of basic algebra and not understanding the affect probability has on choosing solution values. Coding recommendations for improving your code to get better results are provided. To read more, click here. » read more

Verification Of Multi-Cycle Paths And False Paths


All chip designers know that they must take special care to avoid metastability problems when they have multiple, asynchronous clock domains. In contrast, a design in which all clocks are synchronous may appear simple. Logic synthesis ensures that the shortest paths between registers don’t have races and that the longest paths fit within the target cycle time. However, single-clock design is ... » read more

From Constraints To Tape-Out: Towards A Continuous AMS Design Flow


The effort in designing analog/mixed-signal (AMS) integrated circuits is characterized by the largely manual work involved in the design of analog cells and their integration into the overall circuit. This inequality in effort between analog and digital cells increases with the use of modern, more complex technology nodes. To mitigate this problem, this paper presents four methods to improve ex... » read more

Formal Signoff


Xiaolin Chen, senior AE at Synopsys, looks at what’s good enough coverage, what makes one assertion better than another, and where the potential holes are in verification. https://youtu.be/nBtKE0gDHBU » read more

Formal Abstraction And Coverage


For the past three years, Oski Technology has facilitated a gathering of formal verification experts over dinner to discuss the problems and issues that they face. They discuss techniques they have been attempting with formal verification technologies, along with the results they have been achieving. Semiconductor Engineering was there to record that conversation and to condense it into the ... » read more

Generating And Debugging Constraints For High-Speed Serial Instruments


This white paper addresses the specific need for designing constraints into your NI PXIe-6591R or PXIe-6592R High Speed Serial project. Constraints are an often overlooked requirement of the project and can take several weeks to analyze timing requirements on a design, implement constraints, and achieving successful compilations that pass timing. This guide will help reduce the amount of time s... » read more

Commoditizing Constraints


Preparing articles for Semiconductor Engineering involves talking to a lot of people and then trying to fit their statements together in a way that is logical and fair. Sometimes a subject will come up in one of these calls that is not really on topic, but is still interesting. One such incident happened this week while doing research for the Verification 3.0 article. The topic was constrain... » read more

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