We explore the challenges associated with developing a verification solution for a TRAnsistor-level Programmable fabric (TRAP). The TRAP architecture employs bidirectionally operated pass transistors to implement its logic and interconnect network, aiming for high density. However, the existing logic equivalence checking (LEC) methods and tools do not support the primitives necessary to model such transistors in hardware description languages (HDLs). Consequently, verifying the functionality programmed by a given bitstream on TRAP is not inherently feasible. To overcome this limitation, we propose a method that automates the determination of signal flow direction through the bidirectional pass transistors for a given bitstream. Subsequently, we convert the HDL description of the programmed fabric to exclusively utilize unidirectional transistors. This transformation allows us to leverage commercial EDA tools for verifying logic equivalence between the transistor-level HDL representation of the programmed fabric and the post-synthesis gate-level netlist. We have successfully applied the proposed method to verify various benchmark circuits programmed on the TRAP fabric.

Test vector generation for a TRAnsistor-level Programmable (TRAP) fabric faces a number of feasibility and efficiency challenges. The former are caused by (i) the use of bi-directional pass transistors, which are beyond the capabilities of commercial Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) tools, and (ii) the design specifics of TRAP, which result in certain stuck-at faults not being logically testable and calling for a quiescent current-based test solution instead. The latter are caused by the fact that ATPG tools are oblivious to (i) the difference between programming bits and regular inputs, which results in lengthy test application times, and (ii) the role that different modules in the architecture of TRAP play in establishing logic circuits, which results in lengthy unguided exploration of a very large functional space to establish appropriate vector justification and response propagation paths. To address these challenges, we explore an array of solutions including (i) employing TRAP instances where bi-directional transistors are replaced by uni-directional ones, (ii) generating custom IDDQ tests, (iii) expressing test application time as the optimization objective of an Integer Linear Program (ILP) formulation, and (iv) leveraging design knowledge, resulting in perfect stuck-at fault coverage of TRAP and an order-of-magnitude savings in test application time.

We discuss the challenges related with developing a post-programming verification solution for a TRAnsistor-level Programmable fabric (TRAP). Toward achieving high density, the TRAP architecture employs bidirectionally-operated pass transis-tors in the implementation of its logic and interconnect network. While it is possible to model such transistors through appropriate primitives of hardware description languages (HDL) to enable simulation-based validation, Logic Equivalence Checking (LEC) methods and tools do not support such primitives. As a result, formally verifying the functionality programmed by a given bit-stream on TRAP is not innately possible. To address this limitation, we introduce a method for automatically determining the signal flow direction through bidirectional pass transistors for a given bit-stream and subsequently converting the HDL describing the programmed fabric to consist only of unidirectional transistors. Thereby, commercial EDA tools can be used to check logic equivalence between the transistor-level HDL describing the programmed fabric and the post-synthesis gate-level netlist.

The development of games in aid of improving and enriching a student’s learning experience is again on the rise. The beer game [6] in the field of system dynamics was developed to instill the key principles of production and distribution. SimSE [5] provides a simulated game for its players to take on the role of a project manager, and experience the fundamentals of software engineering through cause-effect models. In this paper we present an initial design of SimVBSE as a game for students to better understand value-based software engineering [1], and its underlying theory [3].