Tobias Kirchner

Analogue mixed signal simulation using Spice and SystemC

SystemC is a discrete event simulator that enables the programmer to model complex designs with varying levels of abstraction. In order to improve precision, it can be coupled to more specialized simulators. This article introduces the concept of loose simulator coupling between an analogue simulator and SystemC. It explains the properties and advantages which include a higher simulation performance as well as a higher degree of flexibility. A design example in which SystemC will be connected to SwitcherCad will demonstrate the benefits of loose coupling.

A Framework for Interactive Refinement of Mixed HW/SW/Analog Systems

Increasing complexity and heterogeneity leads to systems that combine the aspects of both digital hardware/software and mixed-signal embedded systems. A major difficulty is the fact that the components for mixed-signal systems are designed bottom-up, while a digital hardware/software system is designed top- down. Often this requires co-simulation, in practice involving multiple simulators from different vendors and on different platforms. Unfortunately, setting up co-simulations is a time-consuming task which is therefore done only a few times for verification purposes. In this paper we show how a plain SystemC simulation can be connected to Saber. A proxy module interfaces to the SystemC simulation and relays signals from and to Saber. A special signal synchronisation and update scheme ensures the availability of current analogue values to SystemC starting from the very beginning of each time step. Furthermore we introduce a mechanism for automatically connecting SystemC modules and show how it can be used to implement a graphical SystemC editor. A design example which compares a SystemC to Saber co-simulation to a functionally identical SystemC-AMS simulation is also included.