Analog layer extensions for analog/mixed-signal assertion languages

Assertion-based methodology is gaining popularity in analog and mixed-signal (AMS) verification. Early AMS assertion languages are built on digital assertion languages. This results in limited native support to express most low-level aspects of AMS properties. We present three analog layer extensions to increase analog expressiveness in AMS assertion languages. We first describe the concept of haloes, an implicit way to handle tolerance values of analog signals in assertions. Then, booleanization of analog signals using dual-threshold is introduced to solve problems caused by fluctuations on signals. Finally, we integrate analog measurement operators into assertions. We validate our extensions using our prototype tool on a 10-bit two-stage pipelined analog-to-digital converter design.