Logic circuit emulator and control method therefor

摘要

A logic circuit emulator comprises multiple sub-systems, in which each sub-system outputs to another one of the sub-systems a permission notification to permit the another sub-system to proceed to next emulation clock cycle depending on whether or not the state of an own sub-circuit has advanced. In case a signal that is output from an own sub-circuit and that is to be sent to a sub-circuit of the other sub-system has changed, each sub-system outputs a transfer request to transfer the signal to the another sub-system before the next emulation clock cycle. In case a signal is not being sent from the own sub-circuit to the sub-circuit of the another sub-system, and a permission notification is received but no transfer request is being received from the other sub-system, a clock signal is output for the own sub-circuit to advance the own sub-circuit to the next emulation clock cycle.

主权项

1. A logic circuit emulator, comprising:
a plurality of sub-systems each of which is provided with one of a plurality of sub-circuits obtained on partitioning a verification target circuit, wherein each of the plurality of sub-systems includes: a permission notification output unit that, if a state of a sub-circuit provided in the each sub-system has advanced, outputs to another sub-system a permission notification for permitting the another sub-system to advance to a next emulation clock cycle; a transfer request output unit that, if a signal that is output from a sub-circuit provided in the each sub-system and that is to be sent to a sub-circuit provided in another sub-system has changed, outputs to the another sub-system before the next emulation clock cycle a transfer request for transferring the signal from the each sub-system to the another sub-system; and a clock control unit that, if a signal from the sub-circuit provided in the each sub-system to a sub-circuit provided in the another sub-system is not being sent, and a permission notification is received from the another sub-system but no transfer request is received from the another sub-system, outputs an emulation clock signal for the sub-circuit provided in the each sub-system to advance the sub-circuit provided in the each sub-system to a next emulation clock cycle, and that, if a signal from the sub-circuit provided in the each sub-system to a sub-circuit provided in the another sub-system is being sent, a permission notification is not received from the another sub-system, or transfer request is received from the another sub-system, terminates the emulation clock signal.