Sondrel points out that verification is an often overlooked part of the chip design process, as designing the chip front-end is often considered the more interesting part. However, Sondrel senior engineering manager Susan Mack takes a different view: "Verification is a critical part of the chip design process and can take up to 70 percent of the time. Designers create designs that meet specification, and verification engineers then work to identify problems. The challenge of thinking outside the box is both exciting and very interesting. Real life can create unusual scenarios for chips, and our task is to find ways to test each design, make sure it works in any situation, and innovate tools and method."
As chips become larger and more complex, it becomes critical to expedite verification and create test scenarios by automating and reusing verification tools and methodologies. The latter is especially important because such chips play a key role in self-driving cars, for example, the chips must be guaranteed to function no matter what happens. If there is a problem with the chip, it is very likely to cause an accident.
Sondrel has been investing in development skills and SoC capabilities such as architecture, design and functional verification. As a result, Sondrel has become one of the world's leading design services companies, offering design services unmatched by major semiconductor companies.
For example, Sondrel can combine C-based SoC integration verification with horizontal and vertical reuse concepts and mechanisms. Vertical reuse means Sondrel can reuse incentive use cases created at the C-based verification flow and components, at the IP level, then at the subsystem, and finally at the SoC level, so it doesn't have to be specific for each level Create a use case. This saves time and reduces the possibility of errors. With a horizontal reuse approach, Sondrel can run simulations that only take a few hours at a particular level, rather than running simulation tests that can take many days. Its test bench is designed in such a way that the transition from simulation to simulation environment is easy and fast through the SCE-MI interface. This can save a lot of time in testing, resulting in faster time-to-market for customers.
Kiran Kodakandia, head of one of Sondrel's verification teams, explained, "As another example, Sondrel's offices in the UK, India and Morocco have joined forces to create a new recursion management tool. This tool is used to create automated, constrained random test checks. , thereby speeding up the validation process and generating detailed reports for engineers, managers and customers based on time points. This improves validation quality and reduces labor so engineers can focus on the parts where they need to apply their skills and creativity, speeding customer time-to-market time."
Finally, as one of the driving forces behind its innovative approach to verification, Sondrel has developed a design capability typically reserved for large semiconductor companies. The Sondrel verification team has completed tool integration that enables the chip to detect and correct malfunctions caused by radiation, such as cosmic rays caused by solar flares. Known as a "lock-in effect," this failure is a short-circuit failure that can have serious consequences in mission-critical or safety-critical applications such as airplanes or automobiles. As chips get larger, the likelihood of lock-in effects increases. Smaller chips are thinner and thinner, increasing the likelihood of lock-in effects.
About SondrelTM _
Founded in 2002, Sondrel is a trusted partner in all stages of integrated circuit design. Its award-winning consulting capabilities in defining and designing ASICs complement its one-stop ASIC service that translates designs into tested, batch-packaged silicon chips. A single point of contact for the entire supply chain process ensures low risk and fast time to market. Headquartered in the UK, Sondrel supports customers worldwide through offices in China, India, France, Morocco and North America. For more information, visit www.sondrel.com