Simulation and synthesis of metastable flip flops
OwnerJeffrey A. Benisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for simulating an array of flip flops including metastable effects. The method can also be used for synthesis. For simulation, a first set of values representing input values for a first rank of flip flops in the array is received. The first set of values includes a bit value for each flip flop in the first rank. An input for each flip flop in a second rank is computed by selecting between a bit value from the first set of values and a bit value from a second set of values, wherein the second set of values represents values previously held in the first rank. Each flip flop in the second rank thus receives a bit value from either the first set or the second set of values. A metastable boundary is thereby simulated between the first and second ranks of the array.
Claims27
A method for simulating an array of flip flops including metastable effects, said method comprising:
- a) receiving a first set of values comprising a bit value for each flip flop in a first rank of flip flops in said array, wherein said first set of values represents input values for said first rank;
- and
- b) computing an input value for each flip flop in a second rank of flip flops in said array by selecting between a respective bit value from said first set of values and a respective bit value from a second set of values, wherein said second set of values represents bit values previously held by flip flops in said first rank;
- wherein said second rank receives a combination of bit values from said first and second sets of values to simulate said metastable effects.
A computer system comprising:
- a bus;
- a memory unit coupled to said bus;
- and
- a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for executing a method for simulating an array of flip flops including metastable effects, said method comprising:
- a) receiving a first set of values comprising a bit value for each flip flop in a first rank of flip flops in said array, wherein said first set of values represents input values for said first rank;
- and
- b) computing an input value for each flip flop in a second rank of flip flops in said array by selecting between a respective bit value from said first set of values and a respective bit value from a second set of values, wherein said second set of values represents bit values previously held by flip flops in said first rank;
- wherein said second rank receives a combination of bit values from said first and second sets of values to simulate said metastable effects.
A computer usable medium having computer readable code stored thereon for causing a computer system to perform a method comprising:
- a) receiving a first set of values comprising a bit value for each flip flop in a first rank of flip flops in an array, wherein said first set of values represents input values for said first rank;
- and
- b) computing an input value for each flip flop in a second rank of flip flops in said array by selecting between a respective bit value from said first set of values and a respective bit value from a second set of values, wherein said second set of values represents bit values previously held by flip flops in said first rank;
- wherein said second rank receives a combination of bit values from said first and second sets of values to simulate metastable effects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.