Revolutionizing Hardware/Software Testing with PSS: Qualcomm & Advantest Lead the Charge

Revolutionizing Hardware/Software Testing with PSS: Qualcomm & Advantest Lead the Charge

In the fast-paced world of semiconductor design and testing, the challenges of hardware/software integration and bridging pre-silicon with post-silicon validation have been a long-standing issue. However, Qualcomm and Advantest are leading the charge with groundbreaking advancements using the Portable Stimulus Standard (PSS) and Cadence’s Perspec platform. These innovations are transforming the testing landscape, enabling more efficient and comprehensive validation than ever before.

Qualcomm’s Pioneering Approach to Automating Hardware/Software Integration

Memory-mapped hardware, which forms the backbone of most modern chips, interacts with embedded functions like video, audio, and AI through memory-mapped registers. These registers are a critical bridge between software and hardware, making it essential to thoroughly validate the interface between the two. However, traditionally, generating and maintaining these interfaces through manual header files and macros can be error-prone, especially as designs grow increasingly complex.

Qualcomm has taken a revolutionary step forward by automating hardware/software integration testing using PSS and Perspec. Their process involves creating PSS descriptions of use-case scenarios and atomic behaviors, abstracted from the detailed hardware implementation. These PSS definitions are then mapped to different test modes:

• Native Mode: Running C code on the host processor, interacting with the SoC.

• UVM Mode: Directly interacting with a UVM testbench for system-level verification.

• Firmware Reference Mode: Generating documentation to guide driver and software development.

By using this approach, Qualcomm ensures that all these testing levels remain updated and synchronized as the design evolves, reducing errors and improving test coverage. PSS provides a more comprehensive system-level behavior testing framework that traditional tools couldn’t address as effectively.

Advantest’s Unification of Pre- and Post-Silicon Testing

Historically, pre-silicon and post-silicon testing were two separate processes, often requiring different tools and setups. Pre-silicon verification would generate flat test vectors that were run on external testers, but this approach was often cumbersome and limited in terms of flexibility. Advantest has tackled this challenge by using PSS to unify pre- and post-silicon testing, streamlining the validation process.

Advantest’s SiConic solution enables the direct use of PSS from pre-silicon testing for post-silicon validation. By connecting functional interfaces like USB, PCIe, and Ethernet to external interfaces such as JTAG, SPI, UART, and I2C, SiConic facilitates a more automated and versatile environment for testing. This enables the execution of complex tests directly on the silicon and helps engineers pinpoint the root causes of failures more efficiently.

The integration of pre- and post-silicon testing using PSS not only simplifies the validation process but also significantly enhances the ability to verify complex designs, ensuring the hardware and software are thoroughly tested at every stage of development.

Perspec: Streamlining Test Development for Accelerated Cycles

In today’s competitive market, development cycles are tighter than ever, especially for hyperscalers and large system vendors. This constant pressure to deliver new advances each year makes it crucial to optimize workflows and reduce development time. This is where Cadence’s Perspec platform comes in, providing an extensive library of pre-built content and system-level testbench generation.

Perspec supports platforms like Arm, RISC-V, and x86 and offers built-in System VIP (Verification IP), allowing teams to focus on higher-level testing tasks while leveraging pre-existing, proven test content. With this tool, teams can accelerate development cycles without compromising on the depth and quality of testing, making it a game-changer for companies striving to stay ahead in the industry.

The Future of Testing: Why PSS and Perspec are Game-Changers

The integration of PSS and Perspec into testing workflows by Qualcomm and Advantest marks a significant shift in how hardware/software integration and validation are approached. By automating complex test scenarios and unifying pre-silicon and post-silicon testing, these tools provide engineers with the ability to validate designs more thoroughly and efficiently than ever before.

As semiconductor designs continue to grow in complexity, staying updated on these advancements will be crucial for anyone in the field of hardware/software integration and system-level validation. PSS and Perspec are not just improving existing testing frameworks; they are setting the stage for the next generation of semiconductor testing, enabling teams to keep up with the rapidly evolving demands of the industry.

By leveraging these cutting-edge tools, companies can improve their testing efficiency, reduce errors, and accelerate their product development cycles—all while maintaining the high standards required for today’s complex systems.

Source - Simiwiki