WaveMAKE, The Versatile Signal Generation Tool

Efficient generation, handling and viewing of analogue and digital signals are available trough the waveform editor and viewer tool, WaveMAKE. This compelling tool offers a true mixed-signal environment, where all signals, input stimuli as well as output response, can be visualised in one viewing window. Signals may be analogue, digital or arbitrary signals including a mix of combinations.

Separate editors are available for the analogue signals, the arbitrary signals and the digital signals. They allow for easy and fast creation of signals, using an intuitive programming style. In addition to signal editors, the tool includes analysis functions such as fast fourier analysis (FFT) and signal characterisation features such as rise time measurements. A double cursor system allows for selective FFT of a given signal or may be used for parameter estimation of e.g. rise/fall times, signal levels, etc.

The WaveMAKE tool can export/import signals to and from e.g. a mixed-signal simulation environment. In this manner the tool serves as the natural bridge between the design environment and the physical test environment. Using WaveMAKE, simulation results can be downloaded from a simulator to the test hardware for generation of actual electrical signals. Similarly, facilities allow the actual response of a device under test (DUT) to be captured.

Plug-in features of the tool allow dynamic linking of other tools and features, and a Tcl/Tk programming interface allows for easy interfacing to other tools, including simulators.

The WaveMAKE waveform editor and viewer can be used to include all analogue and digital signals in a test. Signals may be transferred from a design database and after integration downloaded to the tester.

 
Digtal Patterns

The Pattern Editor is used for editing digital patterns.

Both event and cycle based patterns are supported, and where the event based pattern is typically  imported from a simulator, the cycle based pattern adopts well to a digital tester.

The Pattern Editor supports digital data according to the STIL standard. Control functions are available for: Jump, Repeat, Start, Stop, Subroutine and Label. The Pattern Editor supports Multilevel logics as well.

The editor does also include facilities for pattern generation like walking-one, counters, etc.

Timing Editor

An advanced Timing Editor is available for setting up the timing for digital signals. The editor can support expressions so timing can be defined as for example clock/2+10ns, so whenever the clock rate is changed the timing changes as well. The timing editor is fully graphical and timing changes can be done using the mouse or by entering exact values.

Frame Editor

In WaveMAKE each waveform is divided into frames. Each frame is defined by means of the Frame Editor, and from here complex analog expressions can be written or the signal can be created by the arbitrary signal editor simply by drawing the signal.

Plug-ins

WaveMAKE supports an advanced plug-in concept. Extensions can be added by the user (or microLEX Systems) to extend the functionality so that WaveMAKE exactly fits the specific requirements.
Mixed-signal testing requires often very specific features - the plug-in supports this!

Arbitrary Waveforms

Complete user defined waveforms can be created by the arbitrary waveform editor, in which the signal can be drawn and edited simply by dragging sample points around.

FFT Analyzer

The FFT analyzer is used to view the signal in the frequency domain. It is a highly sofisticated tool that allows arbitrary FFT lengths to be specified. The FFT Analyser may even be applied to digital signals carrying an analouge content.

Variables

Instead of entering parameters in parameter fields, WaveMAKE allows the user to use expressions that include variables. It is a very convenient feature to be able to create complex signals that can easily be changed. For example, the timing table for a digital signal may be specified to be related to the cycle time (e.g. delay=clk_period/2+10ns). If the cycle time is subsequently changed, all related timings change automatically.

DesignLINK uses WaveMAKE for signal assembly and display of signals transferred from the design environment.

A complete design-to-test link, DesignLINK, in conjunction with the WaveMAKE tool offers the user a bidirectional link between mixed-signal simulation and test. This link facilitates what many designers have hoped for, but never could find in verification systems.

The link makes it possible to transfer a simulation result to the test hardware and use it as the basis for the chip validation. The link also allows mapping of the actual test signals back to the design database for use in re-simulation.

This window shows the Frame Editor when it is used for creating an analog signal using an expression primitive.

Fully arbitrary signals can be created and editied using the Arbitrary Waveform Editor.

Defining the timing set for a digital pattern is as easy as dragging the edges around.

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