System and method for dynamically representing repetitive loads of a circuit during simulation

A system for simulating a circuit having a data structure containing repetitive circuit elements, comprising:

• at least one processing unit for executing computer programs;
• a user interface for performing at least one of the functions selected from the group consisting of entering a netlist representation of the circuit, viewing representations of the circuit on a display, and observing simulation results of the circuit;
• a memory for storing a static database and a dynamic database of the circuit;
• means for identifying one or more driver circuits for driving a plurality of repetitive receiver circuits, each driver circuit comprising an output port and each repetitive receiver circuit comprising an input port;
• means for creating a branch node driver for connecting the input ports of the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits and an output port of the one or more driver circuits;
• means for creating a shared load for representing aggregated input port loads of the plurality of receiver circuits having a substantially same isomorphic behavior;
• means for creating a port connectivity interface for communicating changes of signal conditions between the output port of the one or more driver circuits and the corresponding input ports of the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits;
• means for simulating the one or more driver circuits and the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits in accordance with the branch node driver, the shared load and the port connectivity interface;
• and
• during simulation, means for creating a first receiver circuit containing a member of the repetitive receiver circuits and creating a second receiver circuit containing the other members of the repetitive receiver circuits in response to the isomorphic behavior of the member of the repetitive receiver circuits in the first receiver circuit substantially deviating from the other members of the repetitive receiver circuits in the second receiver circuit in accordance with a predetermined set of tolerance levels.

A computer program product, comprising a medium storing computer program for execution by one or more computer systems, the computer program product comprising:

• a simulation module for simulating a circuit having a data structure containing repetitive circuit elements, wherein the simulator module is used in conjunction with at least a processing unit, a user interface and a memory, and the simulator module includes one or more computer programs containing instructions for:
• identifying one or more driver circuits for driving a plurality of repetitive receiver circuits, each driver circuit comprising an output port and each repetitive receiver circuit comprising an input port;
• creating a branch node driver for connecting the input ports of the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits and an output port of the one or more driver circuits;
• creating a shared load for representing aggregated input port loads of the plurality of receiver circuits having a substantially same isomorphic behavior;
• creating a port connectivity interface for communicating changes of signal conditions between the output port of the one or more driver circuits and the corresponding input ports of the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits;
• simulating the one or more driver circuits and the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits in accordance with the branch node driver, the shared load and the port connectivity interface;
• and during simulation, creating a first receiver circuit containing a member of the repetitive receiver circuits and creating a second receiver circuit containing the other members of the repetitive receiver circuits in response to the isomorphic behavior of the member of the repetitive receiver circuits in the first receiver circuit substantially deviating from the other members of the repetitive receiver circuits in the second receiver circuit in accordance with a predetermined set of tolerance levels.