JPH04309178A - Method for preparing and managing symbolic data base at logic simulation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a logic simulation environment corresponding to the intention of a logic designer by segmenting the arbitrary part of logic design data composed of hierarchical structure as module data. CONSTITUTION:An arbitrary partial circuit 10 is segmented from logic design data 1 composed of the hierarchical structure. Then, port data 20 is provided to show segmented ports 10a, 10b... from the source logic design data by interfaces with horizontal, and vertical directions at respective hierarchies and upper and lower hierarchies, and module data 2 are provided while being composed of a data part 22 formed by the class of logic elements in the partial circuit 10 and mutual connection information and a link pointer 21 to connect the port data 20 and the data part 22. With the data as a unit, a design data base 4 is constructed. Thus, a control method in the case of hierarchical design can be applied into the data base, the logic simulation environment can be obtained corresponding to the intention of the logic designer, and data base resources in the past or the system can be effectively utilized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database creation and management method in logical simulation.

[0002] Generally, for a database used for logic simulation, the system developer of the logic simulator determines the internal structure, how to use it, etc., and provides it to the operation side. The environment has become such that you don't have to know anything about the contents of the database.

However, with the recent diversification of data processing,
As the contents of data processing devices have become more complex, the world of logic simulation has also become more complex, by being aware of the structure of the database at the function design stage. It has become necessary to create an environment in which logical design data can be extracted and logical simulations can be performed.

For example, a certain level of highly integrated circuit (LSI)
) When you want to perform functional design for the level, you can divide the logic design data into several units, i.e., the above-mentioned highly integrated circuit (L
It is necessary to divide the SI) into data units, construct a database, and generate new logic design data for each unit module. However, in conventional logic simulation technology, the database is a unified data management system. structure, it is necessary to modify the original input data, recreate a new database that includes the division unit, and then perform a logical simulation on the unit data part, which is extremely inefficient. There is a problem,
There is a growing need for a database creation and management method that can perform effective module-based logical simulations.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional logic simulation method. The logic design data used in conventional logic simulations has a unified data structure, as shown in this figure, and consists of the types of logic elements that make up the logic circuit and connection information between the logic elements. The database 3a is created in a separate format, consisting of a data section 30a and a model section 30b consisting of an equivalent circuit necessary for logic simulation.

Logical simulation is performed by converting the database 3a into a simulation format. Therefore, if a new model section 30b is added or changed depending on the progress of the logical simulation, the database 3a must be corrected or changed to create a new database 3a.

[0007]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In a logic simulation tool that uses a database constructed from general circuit diagrams and systems as an interface, as mentioned above, the internal structure and usage method are determined by the developer of the logic simulation system. The structure is such that only specific logic circuit diagrams or data from a certain simulation system can be used.

[0008] Furthermore, when it is desired to use a certain logic simulation system, it is only possible to use the logic design data by converting it through several conversion systems. As mentioned above, in conventional technology, once a database is created, it depends on management on the logical simulation system side, and as mentioned above, new databases are required to handle changes and modifications to the contents. You need to create a database.

[0009] Under these circumstances, the impact on logic designers who perform logic simulation to confirm the logic circuits they have designed is large, and it is easy to confirm the correctness of logic data and create a library. There are problems in that it is not possible to divert design data or use other CAD system data, such as the resources of other companies' CAD system tools.

In view of the above conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a database creation and management method that can solve the problems that depend on the structure of the current database for logic simulation, that is, a method that allows logic designers to freely , a database creation and management method that can provide a logic design environment that allows functional division and integration.Specifically, a logic designer cuts out an arbitrary logic circuit block from logic design data and creates a symbol. As a library, it aims to provide a database creation and management method that can be used as a unit of logical simulation.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams explaining the principle of the present invention, where Figure 1 (a) shows the concept of the hierarchical structure of logical design data, and Figure 2 (b) shows module data. Figure 2(c) shows the concept of relational data. The above problem is solved by a method for generating and managing a symbolic database in a logical simulation configured as follows.

[0012] This method is a method of constructing a design database 4 to be subjected to logic simulation, in which an arbitrary partial circuit 10 is cut out from logical design data 1 configured in a hierarchical structure, and the cut out partial circuit 1 is
The original logical design data of 0 and the cut points (input/output terminals) 10a, 10b, ~ in the horizontal and vertical directions at each layer,
and a data section 22 consisting of port data 20 indicating the interface with the upper/lower hierarchy, type information of the logic elements in the partial circuit 10, and connection information between the logic elements.
and the link pointer (memory address) 21 that connects the data part (indicating the contents of the relational data 3) 22 of the port data 20, and the module data 2 as a unit, the design database 4. Build the module data
2 from the design database 4 and processed as logical simulation data.

[0013]

[Operation] That is, in the present invention, logical design data 1
For example, layer A is composed of a plurality of highly integrated circuits (LSIs) 1a, and the highly integrated circuits (LSIs)
1a is a layer B made up of a plurality of functional blocks 1b, and a layer C is made up of a plurality of smaller functional blocks 1c.
If you have multiple hierarchical structures such as , ~,
By cutting out an arbitrary partial circuit 10 from the logic design data 1, the logic designer creates the original logic design data 1.
and the cut out partial circuit 10
Module data 2 is created with the extracted partial circuit as a unit, with a structure linked to the detailed data (relational data 3).

[0014] At this time, the module data 2 includes port data 20 indicating horizontal and vertical cuts in each layer and cuts with upper/lower layers, and the partial circuit 10.
a data section 22 consisting of the types of various logic elements existing in the circuit and connection information between the logic elements; port data 20 indicating the cut; and the data section 22, that is, detailed data (relational data) of the partial circuit 10. ) 3 Link pointer indicating connection with 2
The structure consists of 1.

FIG. 1(a) conceptually shows the hierarchical structure of logic design data 1, in which the logic designer creates a partial circuit (that is, a simulation model) in each hierarchy.
10 can be extracted. As a result, as described above, horizontal and vertical cuts within each layer A, B, C, ~, and cuts (port data) between the upper and lower layers are generated.

FIG. 2(b) shows a conceptual diagram of the module data extracted as described above. The ports (PORT1, 2) shown here are the port data indicating the above-mentioned section, and the detailed data (relational data) 3 of the partial circuit and the link pointer (the data part 22) shown in Fig. 2(c) are (address of the memory where is stored) 21 is linked. Specifically, this is realized by linking with the data part 22 of the module data 2, which expresses the connection information between each logic element in the module data 2. The present invention constructs a design database using the module data 2 having such a structure, so that changes and corrections to the logical design data in units of the module data 2 can be performed using the linked relational data (the relational data is linked with the original logical design data 1)
3, it becomes possible to easily perform the simulation, and each logic designer can freely define the structure of the simulation model and easily perform the logic simulation that he/she intends.

By adopting such a module structure, the data section and each model section (equivalent circuit) are separated in each module data 2, and the separated By linking with equivalent circuit data and design data in other formats, such as functional level format, net data format, and CAD data from other companies, a flexible logic simulation environment can be provided.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 described above are diagrams explaining the principle of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, in order to construct the design database 4 to be subjected to logic simulation, an arbitrary partial circuit 10 is cut out from the logical design data 1 having a hierarchical structure, and the cut out partial circuit 10 is
Original logic circuit diagram data 1 (input/output terminal)
10a, 10b, ~ in the horizontal and vertical directions in each hierarchy and the interface with the upper/lower hierarchy, the type of logic element in the partial circuit 10,
a data section 22 consisting of connection information between logic elements;
A design database in which the module data 2 is a unit, and includes a link pointer (memory address) 21 that connects the data section of the port data 20 (that is, detailed data of the partial circuit 10) 22.
The means for constructing No. 3 are the means necessary to carry out the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

Hereinafter, while referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS.
A method for generating and managing a symbolic database in logical simulation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present invention, FIG.
From the hierarchical logical design data 1 shown in (a),
By cutting out an arbitrary partial circuit 10, sections (input/output terminals) 10a, 10b, . . . between the cut out partial circuit 10 and the original logic circuit data 1 are generated.

[0021] This cut is made for each of the cut layers A and B.
, ~ (see FIG. 1) are divided into horizontal and vertical cut data, and cut data for upper and lower hierarchies. Normally, the interface between the upper and lower hierarchies is, for example, a highly integrated circuit (L
SI) terminals, or package input/output terminals, but if the same layer A is composed of multiple circuit diagrams, the cut points within the same circuit diagram A horizontal cut is a cut from the circuit diagram, and a vertical cut is a cut from another circuit diagram, and generally, they often form cuts within the same functional block.

In any case, the port data 20 is specifically composed of the names of the input/output terminals or the names of signal lines on the circuit diagram. When the partial circuit 10 is cut out in this way, a module is formed having the above-mentioned cut as the port data 20. In the present invention, this module is symbolized and becomes a unit of the design database 4. In this sense, the design database 4 constructed according to the present invention is called a symbolic database. The data structure of the symbolic module includes the above port data 20 , a data section 22 consisting of type information of various logic elements in the module, and connection information between the logic elements, and the above port data 20 . Data section (i.e., relational data 3) A link indicating connection with 22.
It consists of a pointer (specifically, the address of the memory where the data section 22 is stored) 21. (
(Refer to the structure of the module data 2 in FIG. 3) In the present invention, logic simulation is performed using the module data 2 as a unit. As described above, the module data 2 has a unit of port data 20 which is the boundary condition of the module, so the port data 2
0 through other existing design data, such as library data, equivalent circuit (model part) data 5,
It is possible to link with other CAD data, etc., and has the advantage of providing a flexible logical simulation environment.

Furthermore, as described above, the module data 2, which is the unit of the logic simulation, is linked to the original logic design data 1 via the link pointer (memory address) 21. Since the module data 2 is linked to the relational data 3, by using the relational data 3, it is possible to easily change or modify the module data 2 while maintaining the association with the overall circuit.

[0024] As described above, the method for creating and managing a symbolic database in logic simulation according to the present invention allows the logic design data input to the logic simulator to be inputted into the logic simulator from any part of the logic design data at the beginning of the logic design. The circuit is cut out and made into a module/black box, and the modularized/black boxed module data is created as a database in a format linked with the logical design data in the hierarchical structure at the time of design, creating a symbolic database called a module library. By using that module data as logic simulation data, it is possible to construct a database that is linked to the original hierarchical structure and allows for flexible module division and library data selection at the logic designer's discretion. There is a characteristic in the place where it is made.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above in detail, the method for creating and managing a symbolic database in logical simulation of the present invention is based on each layer of logical design data that has a hierarchical structure as the data structure of a module that is a simulation model. By introducing a data structure with horizontal, vertical, and link functions (port data, link pointers) to upper or lower layers, control methods during hierarchical design can be brought into the database, making it possible to Even in the hierarchy, the database is made symbolic so that it can be changed and modified, so a logic simulation environment that meets the logic designer's intentions can be obtained, and past database resources created with various CAD tools can be used. This has the effect of enabling effective use of systems, etc.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Diagram explaining the principle of the present invention (Part 1)

[Figure 2] Diagram explaining the principle of the present invention (Part 2)

[Fig. 3] Diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention (Part 1)

[Fig. 4] Diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention (Part 2)

[Figure 5] Diagram explaining the conventional logic simulation method

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Logic design data 10 Partial circuit (simulation model) 1
0a, 10b, ~ Cut 2 Module data 20 Port data 21 Link pointer
22 Data section 3 Relational data 3a Centralized database 30a
Data section 30b Model section (equivalent circuit) 4 Design database (symbolic database) 5 Equivalent circuit data

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A method for constructing a design database (4) for a logical simulation object, the method comprising: cutting out an arbitrary partial circuit (10) from logical design data (1) configured in a hierarchical structure; Cutting point (input/output terminal) of circuit (10) with original logical design data (1)
(10a, 10b, ~) in the horizontal and vertical directions in each hierarchy and the interface with the upper/lower hierarchy, port data (20), type information of the logic element in the partial circuit (10), A data section (22) consisting of connection information between logic elements, and a link pointer (memory address) (21) that connects the data section (22) of the port data (20). The module data (2) is used as a unit, and the design database (4)
A method for creating and managing a symbolic database in logic simulation, characterized in that the module data (2) is extracted from the design database (4) and processed as logic simulation data.