Microsemi SmartDesign MSS Simulation User Guide

: June 9, 2024
: Microsemi

SmartDesign MSS Simulation

Product Information:

The SmartDesign MSS Simulation is a feature of the SmartFusion Microcontroller Subsystem that can be simulated using ModelSim. The MSS simulation is performed using a Bus Functional Model (BFM) strategy. The SmartFusion MSS Cortex M3 processor is modeled with Actel’s AMBA Bus Functional Model (BFM). The SmartFusion MSS peripherals have been categorized into two groups: the first group has full behavioral models, while the second group has memory models that only output messages when memory locations inside the peripheral have been accessed.

Bus Functional Model:

The SmartFusion MSS Cortex M3 processor is modeled with Actel’s AMBA Bus Functional Model (BFM). This makes it easier for users to simulate the processor since it provides details on the supported instructions and syntax of the BFM.

Peripherals and Behaviors:

To minimize simulation time, certain peripherals in the SmartFusion MSS do not have full behavioral models. Instead, they are replaced with memory models that only output messages when memory locations inside the peripheral have been accessed. This means that the peripheral signals will not toggle based on any writes to registers, or react to any signal inputs on the protocol pins. The peripherals that fall into this group include:

Product Usage:

Refer to Actel’s DirectCore AMBA BFM User’s Guide (PDF) for details on the supported instructions and syntax of the BFM.
If you want to minimize simulation time, use peripherals that have full behavioral models.
If you need to use peripherals that only have memory models, remember that their signals will not toggle based on any writes to registers or react to any signal inputs on the protocol pins.
If you have any issues with the SmartDesign MSS, refer to the product support section of the user manual for assistance.

Product Support:

If you require any assistance with the SmartDesign MSS, you can contact the customer technical support center through their website or by calling them directly. For ITAR technical support, please refer to the ITAR Technical Support section of the user manual.

Simulation

The SmartFusion Microcontroller Subsystem can be simulated using ModelSim. MSS simulation is performed using a Bus Functional Model (BFM) strategy. Simulation can be helpful in certain situations, such as:

Verifying the connectivity and addressing of soft peripherals in the Fabric
Verifying the External Memory Interface configuration with your vendor’s memory
Verifying ACE behavior

This document describes the simulation support for SmartFusion MSS.

Bus Functional Model

The SmartFusion MSS Cortex M3 processor is modeled with Actel’s AMBA Bus Functional Model (BFM). Refer to Actel’s DirectCore AMBA BFM User’s Guide (PDF) for details on the supported instructions and syntax of the BFM.

Peripherals and Behaviors

To minimize simulation time, certain peripherals in the SmartFusion MSS do not have full behavioral models. Instead they are replaced with memory models that will output a message indicating when the memory locations inside the peripheral have been accessed. This means that the peripheral signals will not toggle based on any writes to registers, or react to any signal inputs on the protocol pins. The peripherals that fall into this group include:

UART
SPI
I2C
MAC
PDMA
WatchDog
Timer
RTC

The peripherals that have full behavioral models include:

Clock Management
eNVM
External Memory Controller
ACE
GPIO
Fabric Interface Controller
eFROM
AHB Bus Matrix

The eNVM simulation model will not be initialized with data storage or initialization client data. The eSRAM and eNVM are modeled using 256 x 8 RAMs. If you are using a different size RAM your model will use the 256 x 8 RAM size. Similarly, eFROM simulation model will not be initialized with region configuration data. You will be able to write and read to both peripherals as memory elements.

Simulation Flow

Figure 1-1 illustrates the hierarchy of a typical MSS design. The MSS component is instantiated in a top level SmartDesign component with fabric peripherals. In this scenario, generation of the MSS component will produce test.bfm and user.bfm files. Generating the SmartDesign_Top component will produce the subsystem.bfm file.

MICROSEMI SmartDesign MSS Simulation 1

Test.bfm: This contains the BFM commands to initialize the simulation model. The BFM commands in this file are generated based upon your MSS configuration. This file is analogous to the system boot code, as it initializes the MSS and calls your user application. Do not modify this file.
User.bfm: You can customize this file to emulate CortexM3 transactions in your system. This contains an include directive to subsystem.bfm that needs to be uncommented if you have any fabric peripherals that you wish to simulate. The memory map of the fabric peripherals is specified inside subsystem.bfm, you can refer to those defines inside this BFM file. This file is analogous to your user application code.
Subysystem.bfm: Contains the fabric memory map. You do not have to modify this file.

These files are automatically passed to ModelSim™ by Libero® IDE, so all you need to do is modify the user.bfm script before running ModelSim. The user.bfm script can be accessed through the File Hierarchy, below your MSS component in the Simulation Files node (as shown in Figure 1-2).

MICROSEMI SmartDesign MSS Simulation 2

BFM Examples

Example 1: Polling ACE Status

In the following example, the ACE status is polled for the completion of calibration and written out to one of the MSS GPIO bits.

user.bfm:
MICROSEMI SmartDesign MSS Simulation 3

Example 2: Writing and Verifying Fabric GPIO Bits

In the following example, two soft GPIOs have been added into the Fabric. The subsystem.bfm is automatically generated by the system and contains the memory map of the soft GPIO peripherals. The labels can be referenced from within your user.bfm script.

subsystem.bfm:

MICROSEMI SmartDesign MSS Simulation 4

The subsystem.bfm file is automatically generated and you do not need to modify it.

user.bfm:

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Microsemi SoC Products Group backs its products with various support services, including Customer Service, Customer Technical Support Center, a website, electronic mail, and worldwide sales offices. This appendix contains information about contacting Microsemi SoC Products Group and using these support services.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for non-technical product support, such as product pricing, product upgrades, update information, order status, and authorization.

From North America, call 800.262.1060
From the rest of the world, call 650.318.4460
Fax, from anywhere in the world, 650.318.8044

Customer Technical Support Center

Microsemi SoC Products Group staffs its Customer Technical Support Center with highly skilled engineers who can help answer your hardware, software, and design questions about Microsemi SoC Products. The Customer Technical Support Center spends a great deal of time creating application notes, answers to common design cycle questions, documentation of known issues, and various FAQs. So, before you contact us, please visit our online resources. It is very likely we have already answered your questions.

Technical Support

Visit the Customer Support website (www.microsemi.com/soc/support/search/default.aspx) for more information and support. Many answers available on the searchable web resource include diagrams, illustrations, and links to other resources on the website.

Website

You can browse a variety of technical and non-technical information on the SoC home page, at www.microsemi.com/soc.

Contacting the Customer Technical Support Center

Highly skilled engineers staff the Technical Support Center. The Technical Support Center can be contacted by email or through the Microsemi SoC Products Group website.

Email
You can communicate your technical questions to our email address and receive answers back by email, fax, or phone. Also, if you have design problems, you can email your design files to receive assistance. We constantly monitor the email account throughout the day. When sending your request to us, please be sure to include your full name, company name, and your contact information for efficient processing of your request. The technical support email address is soc_tech@microsemi.com.

My Cases
Microsemi SoC Products Group customers may submit and track technical cases online by going to My Cases.

Outside the U.S.
Customers needing assistance outside the US time zones can either contact technical support via email (soc_tech@microsemi.com) or contact a local sales office. Sales office listings can be found at www.microsemi.com/soc/company/contact/default.aspx.

ITAR Technical Support

For technical support on RH and RT FPGAs that are regulated by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), contact us via soc_tech_itar@microsemi.com. Alternatively, within My Cases, select Yes in the ITAR drop-down list. For a complete list of ITAR-regulated Microsemi FPGAs, visit the ITAR web page.

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