Virtual prototyping enables early development & debugging

As Faraday expands its SoC design services to include software development tools, it relies on Synopsys' virtual prototyping solution to create VDKs to help its customers accelerate software development up to 12 months before hardware availability.

The Virtualiser virtual prototyping solution is an integral part of Synopsys' comprehensive solution of tools, models and services for early software development and hardware/software integration. Virtualiser is a suite of tools used for the development, deployment and use of virtual prototypes. Virtualiser addresses the increasing software complexity associated with advanced semiconductor development by enabling the efficient and early creation of SystemC-based TLMs of subsystems. Software developers can assemble the TLMs into virtual prototypes, representing complete systems up to a year before silicon is available.

TLM Creator, part of Virtualiser, accelerates the creation of SystemC TLM models. TLM Creator imports the necessary model interface and structural information and generates a TLM-based template model, which the user can tailor to the desired model behaviour. With Virtualiser, Faraday is able to quickly create a comprehensive set of TLMs for its IP as well as VDKs for any combination of its IP.

“As the complexity of ARM-based SoCs increases, the amount of software to support these designs grows exponentially,” said Ken Liao, Associate Vice President, Digital System & Platform, Faraday Technology. “To help customers shorten time-to-market, Faraday develops the virtual prototypes with IP models for customers' early software development. We chose Synopsys' Virtualiser to facilitate our development for its recognised reputation and wide-adoption in the market. With Faraday's virtual prototypes, the software can be developed and verified before RTL and FPGA prototypes are available, simultaneously with the hardware development.”

“The continued rise of software in SoC designs requires sophisticated software development, debug and analysis tools,” added John Koeter, Vice President of Marketing, IP and Prototyping, Synopsys. “By using Virtualiser, Faraday efficiently delivers VDKs that enable its SoC design customers to start software development and debug earlier, achieve higher product quality and accelerate their time-to-market.”