Multiprocessor for hardware emulation

Abstract

A software-driven multiprocessor emulation system comprising a plurality of emulation processors connected in parallel in a module. One or more modules of processors comprise an emulation system. An execution unit in each processor includes a table-lookup unit for emulating any type of logic gate function. A parallel bus connects an output of each processor to a multiplexor input with every other processor in a module. Each processor embeds a control store to store software logic-representing signals for controlling operations of each processor. Also a data store is embedded in each processor to receive data generated under control of the software signals in the control store. The parallel processors on each module have a module input and a module output from each processor. The plurality of modules have their module outputs inter-connected to module inputs of all other modules. A sequencer synchronously cycles the processors through mini-cycles on all modules. Logic software drives all of the processors in the emulation system to emulate a complex array of Boolean logic, which may be all of the logic gates in a complex logic semiconductor chip. Special control means associated with the embedded control store and the embedded data store in each of the processors enables them to emulate all or part of a memory array within a target logic entity being emulated by the multiprocessor emulation system. Each cycle of processing may control the emulation of a level of logic being verified by the emulation processor.