Method and means for communication between simulation engine and component models in a circuit simulator
AssigneeCadence Design Systems, Inc.
InventorsKenneth S. Kundert, Jacob K. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for improved efficiency of operation of a circuit simulator. The simulation engine processor sends signals via flag registers to the component model processors to indicate which type of response is required from each component model. The component model processors send back only the requested response, thus minimizing processing time by avoiding generating response types that are not needed. Flexibility is enhanced by centralizing tasks in the simulation engine rather than in the component models, in order to facilitate experimentation and variation in circuit configurations without extensive modifications of component model design.
Claims9
An apparatus for operating a circuit simulator comprising:
- an engine processor for generating overall circuit response when given the response of individual components;
- input means connected to said engine processor for accepting input from an external source;
- output means connected to said engine processor for sending engine processor output to an external destination;
- flag communication means connected to receive flags from said engine processor and to transmit flags for specifying both the type of response, and the specific response information said engine processor requires;
- response computation filtration means connected to said engine processor for determining the value of said flags to indicate the specific response information required;
- stimulus communication means connected to receive stimulus from said engine processor and to transmit stimulus;
- at least one component processor connected to receive flags from said flag communication means and to receive stimulus from said stimulus communication means, each said component processor capable of generating a variety of response information for a given type of response, each said component processor generating a subset of the available response information as indicated by said flags of one component when given a stimulus;
- and
- response communication means connected to receive response from said component processors and to transmit response to said engine processor.
A method of communication between an engine processor and at least one component processor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining the specific response information required by each component processor;
- (b) communicating signals to each component processor representing requests for specific types of response information by setting at least one flag register for at least one of the component processors and reading each flag register by the corresponding component processor;
- (c) sending stimulus to each component processor;
- (d) generating the requested response;
- and
- (e) sending a subset of the available response information as requested to the engine processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.