From Concept to Silicon: Synopsys Design Services Transforming Automotive Systems

A basic block diagram of an automotive SoC visually represents the various components and their interconnections. Key components typically include:

1. Processing Units:

• CPU: Executes general tasks and manages system operations, handling vehicle control and user interfaces.
• GPU: Optimized for parallel processing, crucial for image processing in automotive, enabling lane detection and object recognition.
• AI Accelerators: Specialized units for efficiently handling machine learning tasks, enabling real-time decision-making for autonomous driving.

2. Memory Subsystems:

• High-Speed RAM: Provides fast access for temporary data storage, ensuring smooth application operation.
• Non-Volatile Memory (NVM): Retains data without power, used for storing firmware and critical data.
• Cache Memory: Faster memory that stores frequently accessed data with low reducing latency.

3. Connectivity Interfaces:

• Ethernet: High-speed interfaces for communication between the SoC and vehicle systems.
• Controller Area Network (CAN): A robust vehicle bus standard enabling real-time control.
• Other Protocols: Interfaces like LIN and FlexRay facilitate communication with various sensors and actuators.

4. Sensor Interfaces:

• Camera Interfaces: Connect to cameras for vision-based applications, supporting high-bandwidth data transfer.
• LIDAR and RADAR Interfaces: Essential for object detection and distance measurement in autonomous driving.
• Other Sensor Inputs: Interfaces with additional sensors for parking assistance and motion sensing.

5. Other components such as the Power Management Unit (PMU), Security and Functional Safety mechanisms are typically integrated functions within each of the relevant sub-blocks/chiplets.

The Automotive SoC Design & Development Platform integrates various processes to ensure successful design and development, emphasizing functional safety, reliability, quality, and security.

1. Functional Safety (FuSa)

Functional safety is paramount in automotive design, ensuring that systems operate correctly even in the presence of faults. The platform incorporates several elements to address FuSa:

• Automotive IP (ISO 26262): The platform utilizes automotive intellectual property (IP) that complies with ISO 26262 standards, which govern functional safety in automotive systems.
• SLM Use Cases: Silicon Lifecycle Management (SLM) use cases are integrated into the design process, ensuring that safety considerations are addressed throughout the product lifecycle.
• End-to-End FuSa Flow: The platform supports a comprehensive FuSa flow, from initial requirements gathering to final validation, ensuring that safety is embedded at every stage of development.
• Requirements/Constraints: Clearly defined requirements and constraints guide the design process, ensuring that safety objectives are met.

2. Reliability, Quality, and Security

In addition to functional safety, the platform emphasizes the importance of reliability, quality, and security:

• Reliability (AEC-Q100): The platform adheres to AEC-Q100 standards, which define reliability requirements for automotive components, ensuring that the SoC can withstand harsh automotive environments.
• Quality (ISO 9001): Quality management principles based on ISO 9001 are implemented to ensure that the design and manufacturing processes meet high-quality standards.
• Security (ISO 21434): The platform incorporates security measures aligned with ISO 21434, addressing cybersecurity risks and ensuring the protection of sensitive data and vehicle functions.

3. Exploration & Analysis

The design process begins with exploration and analysis, which includes:

• Feasibility Study: Conducting feasibility studies to assess the viability of the proposed design and identify potential challenges.
• Fault Analysis: Utilizing tools like SpyGlass for static analysis and fault analysis to identify design issues early in the process.
• FuSa Analysis: Performing functional safety analysis to ensure that safety requirements are met and that potential failure modes are identified and mitigated.

4. FuSa Aware RTL Creation

Once the exploration phase is complete, the focus shifts to creating a FuSa-aware Register Transfer Level (RTL) design:

• RTL-Architect: The RTL design is developed using RTL-Architect, ensuring that safety features are integrated into the hardware description.
• Safety Data Creation: Safety data is generated to support the verification process, ensuring that the design meets all functional safety requirements.

5. Verification

Verification is a critical step in the design process, ensuring that the RTL design functions as intended:

• Verification Tools: The platform employs various verification tools, including VC 201x, VC Formal, and ZeBu, to validate the design against specifications.
• Standard Fault Format: Utilizing a standard fault format facilitates consistent fault analysis and verification across the design.

6. Signoff

Before moving to manufacturing, the design must undergo a rigorous signoff process:

• Automotive Grade Signoff: Ensuring that the design meets automotive-grade requirements is essential for compliance and reliability.
• EM/IR/SI/IP Sign-off: Conducting electromagnetic (EM), infrared (IR), signal integrity (SI), and intellectual property (IP) sign-off ensures that the design is ready for production.

7. Manufacturing

The manufacturing phase involves several key activities:

• Foundry Collaboration: Collaborating with foundries to ensure that the design is manufacturable and meets all specifications.
• Test and Validation: Implementing test strategies, including Design for Testability (DFT), to ensure that the SoC can be effectively tested during production.

Throughout the design and development process, an optimization cycle is employed to continuously improve the design. Incorporating feedback from various stages of the design process allows for iterative improvements and refinement. And the optimization cycle focuses on enhancing performance, power efficiency, and overall design quality.