Hi all,
I would like to perform mixed/mode simulations (using AMS-Designer through the Hirachy-Editor->AMS-Plugin environment) including post-layout SDF delays for verilog digital modules.
From the AMS Environment User Guide, I read that it is necessary to fill the field "AMS-Plugin->AMS Options->Elaborator->SDF annotation -> Use SDF command file" but it seems to me it is not enough since the SDF delays are not considered and all the digital gates keep their original indicative delay time (e.g. 1ns as default).
I filled the field above either with the absolute path to the SDF delay file or with a file containing only the following verilog expression:

initial $sdf_annotate("sdf_delayfile.sdf", name_top_module)

I am not sure if this file can be considered a "SDF command file" but I tried anyway
In both cases the sdf delays are ignored!
I also reduced the default timescale for verilog modules in order to avoid any "delay rounding" but still it does not work.

Does anybody of you experimented such behaviour? Do you have any idea?

Thanks in advance and bye!
Cri

Hi ACWWong,
thanks for the answer but I found out that some steps are needed before to attach an SDF file to the simulation:

1) compile the SDF delay file with "ncsdfc filename.sdf" obtaining a compiled "filename.sdf.X"
2) create a SDF command file similar to the following:

// SDF command file

COMPILED_SDF_FILE = "filename.sdf.X",
SCOPE = :istance
MTM_CONTROL = "TYPICAL",

// END OF FILE

where SCOPE should be the name of the instance, to whom the SDF file is hierarchically referred to, as it appears in the top testbech file.
3) run "ncelab" with the options "-sdf_cmd_file" and "-sdf_verbose"
4) check the effectiveness of the previous step reading the logfile "sdf_annotation.log"

Unfortunately I am not able to complete this procedure beacuse I cannot find out the correct istance name for the SCOPE variable in step 2). I tried several ways but the ncelab returns to me the warning W,SDFSNF (meaning, I guess, wrong SCOPE).

Does it exist a more straightforward way to perform SDF annotation with AMS-Designer?
Did anybody make a further step?

Thanks, bye!
Cri

Hi AW,

thanks again for the reply!
It seems to work!

Bye,
Cri

Well, you need to have an installation with AMS Designer simulator in it in your UNIX path - you'll need <IUSinstDir>/tools/bin in the path, where IUSinstDir is an installation of an IUS stream (IUS583 is the current version).

Also, you'll need a license for the AMS Environment (as well as the AMS Simulator). Alternatively, you can simulate within ADE, using "ams" as the simulator choice.

It's probably worth reading the documentation and working through the tutorial (mentioned in the documentation) if you're not familiar with AMS Designer.

Regards,

Andrew.