Dolphin selects Imperas for processor design verification

ImperasDV, with ‘step-compare’ methodology, is the state-of-the-art approach for processor design verification including asynchronous events.

The open standard ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) of RISC-V offers processor developers many options and configurable features, in addition to the supporting tools and software, this combination offers both design flexibility and ecosystem compatibility. ImperasDV supports the RISC-V design verification tasks across the complete specification with the Imperas golden reference model, architectural validation tests, additional functional test suites, coverage analysis, and simulation-based test methodologies for asynchronous events and debug operations.

The open standard RVVI (RISC-V Verification Interface) provides the essential guidelines for the infrastructure around the processor testbench that supports the growing ecosystem of Verification IP for RISC-V processor verification. The RVVI open standard and methodology is based on an open specification and can be adapted to any configuration permitted within the RISC-V specification. In adopting the RVVI standard, developers can leverage all the common components off the shelf and explore additional options with reusable verification IP across projects.

“Our verification methodology for the Panther DSP/AI Accelerator IP needs to address not just the full range of the current configuration options but also the roadmap for Panther,” said Philippe Berger, CEO of Dolphin Design. “ImperasDV is the cornerstone of our simulation-based DV strategy, with the Imperas golden reference model, scoreboard, verification IP, functional coverage analysis and debug efficiency.”

“In complex compute systems the processor core may be complemented with additional accelerators or combined in multicore arrays to address the application workloads,” said Simon Davidmann, CEO at Imperas Software Ltd. “RISC-V processor verification is always important, but this is especially true with complex structures that may present the processor core with unusual scenarios not encountered in traditional embedded designs. ImperasDV supports the sophisticated DV methodologies such as ‘lock-step-compare’ and asynchronous events that are required for today’s advanced cores and multi-processor platforms.”