Discrete-continuous simulation model for accurate validation in component-based heterogeneous SoC design

Heterogeneous systems combining several technologies promise the overcoming of several limitations, cost constraints and provide new useful features. Currently their design is an important challenge, one of the key issues being the integration of the pre-built components specific to different application domains (ex. electrical, mechanical, optical, etc.). In this context, new CAD tools offering the global view of the systems to be designed and enabling their overall validation are mandatory. This paper presents a generic discrete-continuous simulation model for an accurate global validation in component-based heterogeneous systems design. This model allows using powerful tools for the two domains; it was applied for simulation of systems integrating discrete models in SystemC and continuous models in Simulink. Its evaluation was performed using an illustrative application.