SymSim: symbolic fault simulation of data-flow data-path designs at the Register-Transfer level

摘要

This paper presents a technique and tool (SymSim) for symbolic fault-simulation of data-paths specified at the Register-Transfer Level (RTL) constrained by specific control sequences. SymSim achieves this using a symbolic value system suitable for RTL simulation. It also computes and maintains input dependency information at each node in the design using a novel artifact called Dependency Set which at any time-frame contains all primary input symbols that effect the current value on that node. Symbolic fault-simulation can be used along with a symbolic test-generator to detect multiple faults with a single test to reduce test length and and generation time.