System and method for providing flexible signal routing and timing
First Claim
1. A target interface logic for facilitating exchanges of communication signals between a hardware logic emulation system and a target system, the hardware logic emulation system having a plurality of programmable logic devices or processor chips, the target system verifying a logic design being emulated by the hardware logic emulation system, the target interface logic comprising:
- at least one control signal connection that receives a system clock signal and a synchronization signal from the hardware logic emulation system, said synchronization signal initiating an emulation cycle that comprises a predetermined number of system clock cycles of said system clock signal;
a plurality of output data connections that receives output data signals from the hardware logic emulation system, said output data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle;
a plurality of input data connections that provides input data signals to the hardware logic emulation system, said input data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle;
a plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections that exchanges target data signals with the target system, said target data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle;
a plurality of field programmable gate arrays; and
a configuration memory space storing configuration information,wherein at least one of the plurality of field programmable gate arrays is configured according to the configuration information to couple a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of input data connections and a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, and to couple a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of output data connections and the first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections,wherein the target interface logic reconfigurably schedules exchange of the target data signals between the hardware emulation logic and the target system according to the configuration information, andwherein at least one reconfigurable bidirectional connection of said reconfigurable bidirectional connections is configurable to change its configuration between providing outgoing target data signals and receiving incoming target data signals during said emulation cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A target interface system for flexibly routing and timing communication signals exchanged between selected components of a communication system and methods for manufacturing and using same. Under the control of a host system, the target interface system samples an output data signal provided by the host system and includes a reconfigurable datapath for flexibly routing the sampled data signal to a selected target I/O pin of the target interface system. The selected target I/O pin provides the sampled data signal as an outgoing target data signal to a target system and likewise receives an incoming target data signal from the target system. Upon sampling the incoming target data signal, the target interface system flexibly routes the sampled data signal to the host system as an input data signal. The target interface system thereby facilitates exchanges of communication signals between the host system and the target system.
82 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A target interface logic for facilitating exchanges of communication signals between a hardware logic emulation system and a target system, the hardware logic emulation system having a plurality of programmable logic devices or processor chips, the target system verifying a logic design being emulated by the hardware logic emulation system, the target interface logic comprising:
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at least one control signal connection that receives a system clock signal and a synchronization signal from the hardware logic emulation system, said synchronization signal initiating an emulation cycle that comprises a predetermined number of system clock cycles of said system clock signal; a plurality of output data connections that receives output data signals from the hardware logic emulation system, said output data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle; a plurality of input data connections that provides input data signals to the hardware logic emulation system, said input data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle; a plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections that exchanges target data signals with the target system, said target data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle; a plurality of field programmable gate arrays; and a configuration memory space storing configuration information, wherein at least one of the plurality of field programmable gate arrays is configured according to the configuration information to couple a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of input data connections and a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, and to couple a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of output data connections and the first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, wherein the target interface logic reconfigurably schedules exchange of the target data signals between the hardware emulation logic and the target system according to the configuration information, and wherein at least one reconfigurable bidirectional connection of said reconfigurable bidirectional connections is configurable to change its configuration between providing outgoing target data signals and receiving incoming target data signals during said emulation cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A communication system for exchanging communication signals, comprising:
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a first system that provides a system clock signal, a synchronization signal, and output data signals and that receives input data signals, the first system having a plurality of programmable logic devices or processor chips, said synchronization signal initiating a system cycle that comprises a predetermined number of system clock cycles of said system clock signal; and an interface logic that facilitates said exchanges of said communication signals with a second system verifying a logic design being emulated by the first system, and including; at least one control signal connection that receives said system clock signal and said synchronization signal; a plurality of output data connections that receives said output data signals, said output data signals being dynamic during said system cycle; a plurality of input data connections that provides said input data signals, said input data signals being dynamic during said system cycle; a plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections that exchanges bidirectional data signals with the second system, said bidirectional data signals being dynamic during said system cycle; a plurality of field programmable gate arrays; and a configuration memory space storing configuration information, wherein at least one of the plurality of field programmable gate arrays is configured according to the configuration information to couple a first reconfigurable of the plurality of input data connections and a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, and to couple a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of output data connections and the first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, wherein the target interface logic reconfigurably schedules exchange of the target data signals between the hardware emulation logic and the target system according to the configuration information, and wherein at least one reconfigurable bidirectional connection of said reconfigurable bidirectional connections is configurable to change its configuration between providing outgoing target data signals and receiving incoming target data signals during said system cycle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for exchanging communication signals between a hardware logic emulation system and a target system, the hardware logic emulation system having a plurality of programmable logic devices or processor chips, the target system verifying a logic design being emulated by the hardware logic emulation system, the method comprising:
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receiving a system clock signal and a synchronization signal from the hardware logic emulation system, said synchronization signal initiating an emulation cycle that comprises a predetermined number of system clock cycles of said system clock signal; receiving output data signals from the hardware logic emulation system via a plurality of output data connections, said output data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle; providing input data signals to the hardware logic emulation system via a plurality of input data connections, said input data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle; exchanging target data signals with the target system via a plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, said target data signals being dynamic during said emulation cycle; configuring at least one of a plurality of field programmable gate arrays according to configuration information stored in a configuration memory space to couple a first reconfigurab1e portion of the plurality of input data connections and a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections, and to couple a first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of output data connections and the first reconfigurable portion of the plurality of reconfigurable bidirectional connections; reconfigurably scheduling exchange of the target data signals between the hardware emulation logic and the target system according to the configuration information, wherein at least one reconfigurable bidirectional connection of said reconfigurable bidirectional connections is configurable to change its configuration between providing outgoing target data signals and receiving incoming target data signals during said emulation cycle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification