System and method for automatic correction of flight time skew of timing signals in simulated source synchronous interface operation

A system for maintaining time alignment of clock and strobe signals in a simulated source synchronous interface between driver and receiver portions of a behaviorally modeled electronic system, the system comprising:

• a memory unit storing parametric data relating to the electronic system, said parametric data including a clock signal and a plurality of strobe signals to be transmitted respectively through predefined clock and strobe nets between the driver and receiver portions, said clock and strobe nets defining geometric paths of differing lengths between the driver and receiver portions, said clock signal being associated with an address signal for directing a plurality of data signals to be transmitted between the driver and receiver portions, each of said strobe signals being associated with one of said data signals;
• and,
• a timing alignment unit coupled to said memory unit, said timing alignment unit being executable to:
• selectively generate clock net and strobe net behavioral models respectively modeling a time skewing due to said differing geometric paths of said clock and strobe nets on said clock and strobe signals respectively passed therethrough, said net behavioral models being selectively generated based on interconnect models extracted therefor and mutually assigned to one another;
• actuate preliminary transient simulation locally on said clock net and strobe net behavioral models to simulate time skewed transmission of said clock and strobe signals respectively through said clock and strobe nets;
• and,
• measure responsive to said preliminary transient simulation a timing skew between respective transmissions of said clock and strobe signals through said clock and strobe nets, the measured timing skew being applied to a subsequent general simulation of the source synchronous interface for compensation between said clock and strobe timing signals, said general simulation being based on behavioral models for execution at a higher level of abstraction than a hardware model-based simulation.

A method for maintaining alignment of timing signals of a source synchronous interface between driver and receiver portions of an electronic system in a behavioral model-based simulation environment, the method comprising:

• establishing first and second timing signals corresponding to predetermined information to be transmitted respectively through predefined first and second nets between the driver and receiver portions, said first and second nets defining geometric paths of differing lengths between the driver and receiver portions;
• selectively generating first and second net behavioral models respectively modeling a time skewing due to said differing geometric paths of said first and second nets on said first and second timing signals passed therethrough, said first and second net behavioral models being selectively generated based on interconnect models extracted therefor and mutually assigned to one another;
• executing preliminary transient simulation locally on said first and second net behavioral models in a processor to simulate time skewed transmission of said first and second timing signals through said first and second nets;
• and,
• measuring responsive to said preliminary transient simulation a timing skew between respective transmissions of said first and second timing signals through said first and second nets, the measured timing skew being applied to a subsequent general simulation of the source synchronous interface for compensation between said first and second timing signals, said general simulation being based on behavioral models for execution at a higher level of abstraction than a hardware model-based simulation.