The Fundamentals of VHDL-AMS for Automotive Electrical Systems Modeling

The Fundamentals of VHDL-AMS for Automotive Electrical Systems Modeling course is designed as an example-driven VHDL-AMS modeling jump-start for the mixed-signal/mixed-technology modeling community. It is focused on only those VHDL-AMS language features/capabilities which will prove most valuable to this community. As a result, the course is concise and to the point, and can be completed in one day.

The course has been designed with the automotive electrical community in mind. However, familiarity with automotive design issues is not required. The course can also be completed without any prior simulation experience. Only general knowledge of electrical engineering principles is required to benefit from the course.

This course covers the following topics:

• VHDL-AMS Structure and Syntax overview This section provides basic language background information. It is most useful to those who intend to become proficient in the language.
• Analog Modeling This section discusses basic techniques for modeling continuous (analog) behaviors, often described by simultaneous equations.
• Digital Modeling This section covers techniques for modeling discrete, event-driven behaviors, often described by truth tables.
• Mixed-Signal Modeling This section discusses detection of analog thresholds, digital events, and how to combine mixed analog/digital behaviors in models.

Mixed-Technology and Application-specific Extensions This section introduces concepts which allow the VHDL-AMS language to be extended beyond its general functionality, so models can be customized models for specific application areas, such as automotive electrical systems. Also included in the course are three lab exercises, which can be run with the SystemVision analysis platform software. These labs are oriented around automotive electrical modeling designs, and provide working examples for the topics covered in the course.

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This course is contained within a ZIP file.

This file consists of the following:

1. "VHDL-AMS_4_Auto_design.pdf" This file contains the actual course material, including VHDL-AMS modeling discussions, and lab instructions.
2. SystemVision lab files

The lab files will be used to run the lab exercises. All labs will be run from the SystemVision Project File, VHDL_AMS_Auto.prj. If you are not familiar with SystemVision, you are strongly encouraged to run through the SystemVision "Getting Started" tutorial. These tutorials can be accessed by launching SystemVision, and clicking on the Help Pull-down menu. You should also print a copy of the SystemVision Quick Reference Guide prior to running the VHDL-AMS labs that come with this download.

Assuming you are familiar with the basic operation of SystemVision, open the VHDL_AMS_Auto project. This is the starting point from which you will run your first lab.

Either open and run though the course material with the PDF on-screen, or print out a copy (printing a copy out is usually more effective than reading the material on-screen). The VHDL-AMS course material is modeling-oriented, rather than tool-oriented. Hence, it does not give detailed SystemVision operational instructions (except in special cases), so be sure to use the SystemVision Quick Reference Guide for tool-specific training.

Download VHDL-AMS for Automotive