Why SoC Validation is Important

System-on-Chip (SoC) validation is an important part of the IC design process that tests an integrated circuit's functionality and dependability. As an IC designer, it is critical to construct complicated SoCs that can execute a variety of functions while meeting the required standards. Comprehensive SoC validation is crucial for avoiding costly errors and delays during the product development cycle. This includes testing the interactions and compatibility of all the different components that make up the SoC, such as the CPU, memory, and various peripherals. SoC validation is typically done using a combination of simulation, emulation, and prototyping.

In this article, we will explain the importance of SoC validation, the problems associated with the validation process, and helpful solutions to assist you overcome these challenges.

Challenges in SoC Validation

SoC validation can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially when dealing with complex designs that have millions of gates and complex interconnects. Some of the common challenges in SoC validation include:

Test Coverage: With SoCs becoming more complicated, obtaining thorough test coverage can be a difficult undertaking. To make sure that the chip complies with the required criteria, it is crucial to make sure that all of its functions are tested and confirmed.

Design Changes: Changes to the design, even minor ones, can significantly impact the validation process. It is essential to have a robust validation plan in place to handle design changes and ensure that they do not impact the chip's performance.

Verification Environment: The verification environment must be comprehensive enough to test all aspects of the design, including functional and non-functional requirements.

Solutions to SoC Validation Challenges

FPGA prototyping can be used as part of the SoC validation process, as it allows designers to test the interactions and compatibility of all the different components that make up the SoC in a real-world environment. Here are the steps for using FPGA prototyping during SoC validation:

Implement the design on an FPGA: Using an FPGA-based board, implement the detailed design and create a hardware implementation of the SoC design. The Prodigy S7-19P Logic Systems with VU19P-based prototyping platforms offer designers a powerful tool for developing and testing ASIC/SoC designs. With high logic capacity, interconnect, and bandwidth capabilities, along with significant improvements in logic per device and performance, the Prodigy S7-19P is an ideal choice for designers looking to optimize their prototyping process.

Test and validate the design: With the FPGA-based board, test and validate the design in a real-world environment, including running software and testing the performance of the SoC. These demonstrations were performed using S2C's Prodigy prototyping platform featuring Xilinx or Intel's FPGAs, providing an interactive and informative experience for attendees.

Debug and optimize: If any issues are identified during the testing and validation phase, use the debugging and analysis tools provided by your FPGA prototyping solution to identify and resolve any issues. Then optimize the design for better performance or functionality, as necessary. S2C showcased its latest hardware and software, including the Prodigy MDM Pro multi-FPGA debug tools and the Prodigy ProtoBridge high-throughput channel. These tools enable the transfer of large amounts of transaction-level data between the FPGA prototype and a host computer, facilitating efficient and effective debugging.

By using FPGA prototyping during SoC validation, designers can test the functionality and performance of the complete SoC design in a real-world environment. This helps identify any potential issues early in the development process and allows designers to make any necessary changes or optimizations before moving on to more expensive production phases.

Conclusion

The SoC validation stage of the design process is essential for ensuring the functioning and dependability of an integrated circuit. As an IC designer, it is critical for you to have a comprehensive verification plan. It provides an effective and efficient method to verify SoC designs by utilizing the S2C FPGA prototyping solution. S2C FPGA prototyping solutions can help ensure that the final product meets all necessary requirements and specifications by providing a more accurate representation of the design, testing the design at high speed and low cost, and reducing the risk of errors and failures.