Embedded Systems Design - June 2008 - (Page 24)

an actual system. It can boot an operating system and run the driver code and application software. Some virtual prototypes feature mockups of the physical device itself and allow design teams to press all of its virtual buttons. A good virtual prototype is an invaluable tool to explore all of the facets of the system long before it’s built. an IEEE standardized language targeted at system-level modeling. Armed with the language reference manual (LRM) and a freely downloadable proof-of-concept simulator, many engineers have created full system prototypes. Complete virtual-prototyping environments are also available from a number of companies. Environments The virtual world is easier to control than the real world. Corner cases are constructed in minutes in a conﬁgurable software environment. The virtual world is easier to control than the real world. Corner cases that can take hours to set up with physical hardware often can be constructed in minutes in a conﬁgurable software environment. Once the test scenario is established, it can be repeated to allow for the multiple debugging iterations necessary to identify and ﬁx system issues. If the designer ﬁnds that the problem lies in another area or with another designer’s code, the virtual prototype can be sent to the appropriate engineer as an e-mail attachment. Virtual prototypes are more easily debugged than their physical counterparts. When a problem is detected, it’s a simple task to simultaneously halt the execution of both the hardware and software. Halting execution is not nearly as simple with real hardware and is sometimes even impossible. Once the system is stopped, debugging the virtual prototype is simpler than debugging the real hardware as well. Unlike physical hardware where visibility into the model is conﬁned to the visible pins and the few registers that are made available via JTAG, virtual prototypes have visibility into all components of the system. In fact, virtual prototypes often ﬁnd and help debug problems when the actual hardware has already been built. from ARM, CoWare, Synopsys, and Virtutech tend to be the most common. These companies will supply models and services to help complete a virtual-system prototype. Regardless of which virtual-prototype environment is chosen, however, all environments share one fundamental need: They all need models to represent the functionality of the various system components. Models are needed for each portion of the design touched by the software. While instruction-set models for processors are readily available from the processor vendor, obtaining models for the rest of the components in the system can be less straightforward. FILLING IN THE MISSING PIECES There are three options for obtaining models for the remaining components for a virtual prototype: 1. Designers can obtain them from an intellectual property (IP) or prototype vendor; 2. They can write the models themselves; or, 3. They can generate them automatically from the hardware implementation. Many pieces of IP, especially commodity IP such as memories, interrupt controllers, and other simple logic have virtual models already created and readily available. Care must be Technologic SYSTEMS We use our stuff. visit our TS-7200 powered website at HOW ARE VIRTUAL PROTOTYPES CREATED? A variety of options are available for creating virtual prototypes. SystemC is www.embeddedARM.com (480) 837-5200 http://www.embeddedARM.com http://www.embeddedARM.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Embedded Systems Design - June 2008

Embedded Systems Design - June 2008 Contents #Include Party Bit Programmer's Toolbox Cover Feature: Virtual Hardware Platforms for Embedded Software Validation Allocating Memory in MATLAB-to-C Code MDD and IDEs: Making the Twain Meet in Embedded Systems Design Avoid a Thrashing Guest Editor Advertising Index Break Points Marketplace

Embedded Systems Design - June 2008

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