Formal verification

Formal Verification Skill

Overview

Expert skill for formal property verification and model checking, enabling exhaustive verification of FPGA design properties without simulation.

Capabilities

• Write properties for formal verification
• Configure formal tool constraints
• Analyze formal counterexamples
• Apply bounded model checking
• Configure cover and assume directives
• Debug formal failures
• Integrate formal with simulation flows
• Support JasperGold and VC Formal flows

Target Processes

• sva-development.js
• cdc-design.js
• constrained-random-verification.js

Usage Guidelines

Property Types

• assert property: Must always hold
• assume property: Environment constraints
• cover property: Reachability goals
• restrict property: Strong constraints

Formal Approaches

• Bounded Model Checking: Check properties up to N cycles
• Unbounded Proof: Complete verification when possible
• Induction: K-induction for liveness properties
• Abstraction: Reduce complexity for scalability

Writing Effective Properties

// Safety property
assert property (@(posedge clk) disable iff (rst)
  req |-> ##[1:5] gnt);

// Liveness property (bounded)
assert property (@(posedge clk) disable iff (rst)
  req |-> s_eventually gnt);

// Assumption for formal
assume property (@(posedge clk)
  $onehot0(req_vec));

Constraint Development

• Model input protocol constraints
• Constrain unrealistic scenarios
• Avoid over-constraining
• Use helper logic for complex constraints
• Document constraint rationale

Counterexample Analysis

• Load counterexample trace
• Identify root cause
• Distinguish bug vs. missing constraint
• Create regression test from counterexample
• Update constraints or fix RTL

Tool Integration

• Configure engine selection
• Set proof bounds appropriately
• Use proof acceleration techniques
• Integrate with regression flows
• Archive proof results

Dependencies

• Formal tool awareness (JasperGold, VC Formal)
• SVA expertise
• Model checking theory knowledge