Modifying the topology of circuits containing mixed signal subcircuits to enable electro-optical co-simulation

A system for simulating a mixed-signal circuit design comprising, the system comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor, coupled with the memory and to execute the instructions, the instructions when executed cause the processor to:
• divide a first circuit design disposed in a first level of hierarchy of the mixed-signal circuit design into a plurality of subcircuits, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of subcircuits is adapted to process an electrical signal, and at a least a second one of the plurality of subcircuits is adapted to process an optical signal;
• add one or more input/output terminals to the first one of the plurality of subcircuits to transform the first one of the plurality of subcircuits into a first subblock;
• add one or more input/output terminals to the second one of the plurality of subcircuits to transform the second one of the plurality of subcircuits into a second subblock;
• replace an instance of the first circuit design in a second level of hierarchy of the mixed-signal circuit design with the first and second subblocks;
• perform a simulation of the first subblock associated with each of the first and second levels of the hierarchy using an electrical circuit simulator;
• and
• perform a simulation of the second subblock associated with each of the first and second levels of the hierarchy using an optical circuit simulator.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising stored instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• divide a first circuit design disposed in a first level of hierarchy of the mixed-signal circuit design into a plurality of subcircuits, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of subcircuits is adapted to process an electrical signal, and at a least a second one of the plurality of subcircuits is adapted to process an optical signal;
• add one or more input/output terminals to the first one of the plurality of subcircuits to transform the first one of the plurality of subcircuits into a first subblock;
• add one or more input/output terminals to the second one of the plurality of subcircuits to transform the second one of the plurality of subcircuits into a second subblock;
• replace an instance of the first circuit design in a second level of hierarchy of the mixed-signal circuit design with the first and second subblocks;
• perform a simulation of the first subblock associated with each of the first and second levels of the hierarchy using an electrical circuit simulator;
• and
• perform a simulation of the second subblock associated with each of the first and second levels of the hierarchy using an optical circuit simulator.

The non-transitory computer readable medium 15 wherein the first one of the plurality of subcircuits is adapted to process an analog electrical signal, and wherein a third one of the plurality of subcircuits is adapted to process a digital electrical signal, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

• add one or more input/output terminal to the third one of the plurality of subcircuits to transform the third one of the plurality of subcircuits into a third subblock;
• replace an instance of the first circuit design in a third level of hierarchy of the mixed-signal circuit design with the first, second and third subblocks;
• perform a simulation of the first subblock associated with each of the first and third levels of the hierarchy using an analog circuit simulator;
• perform a simulation of the second subblock associated with each of the first and third levels of the hierarchy using an optical circuit simulator;
• and
• perform a simulation of the third subblock in each of the first and third levels of the hierarchy using a digital circuit simulator.