Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1539283
38 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2025 ▼ F i g u re 1 : P hys i c s t h e o r y, E DA to o l s , a n d m et h o d o l o g y i nte ra ct i n a c o m p l i c ate d d a n c e. Consistent Checking When working on a design, the last thing we want is to reach the end of the cycle and realize there is a critical problem. Having to tear apart and reroute half of the design at this stage feels like starting from scratch, causing unnecessary delays and costs. Designs are like building blocks: We add one thing on top of another. However, there needs to be a verification strategy while implementing each part of the design, rather than waiting until the end of the design cycle. That's where the idea of "shift left" comes in. We need to periodically go back and re-verify our earlier work. Does the design meet requirements, or are adjustments needed before moving on to other parts of the design? Shifting left means we verify early on, but it's not a one-time thing. We need to keep checking as we move forward in the design process—a continuous quality check to ensure everything stays on track. This verification process can get complicated. The outcome depends on configurations and settings that must be determined at the beginning of the design process to ensure consistent checking throughout. However, there is a hidden cost here: the time that must be dedicated to configuration before starting the analysis. Automation plays a significant role. An automated verification process can be done consistently and efficiently. No matter how often the analysis was run, it was done the same way each time. Automation significantly simplifies the setup process, ensuring simple mistakes don't cost hours of analysis using the wrong setup or conditions. The only variable should be the design itself, not the analysis process. Prioritizing for Success Progressive verification aims to prioritize different analysis components, generating a dynamic verifi- cation strategy for each project depending on the risk associated with different parts of the design and the time available. When board layout is completed, there is limited time for verification. While the aim is to quickly re- solve as many issues as possible, it is unlikely that everything will be addressed before it is sent to the prototype fabricator. Thus, the goal becomes to eliminate as many problems as possible within the given time frame. The process is straightforward: Quick tasks first: Replace traditional manual design inspections, which are prone to decision fa- tigue, with fast and effective automated rule-based verification. Intermediate tasks next: Conduct compliance analysis to handle obvious problems. Standards- based, repeatable, and understandable, requiring no new knowledge about specific transmitters and receivers. Complex tasks last: Use SI experts for detailed modeling and vendor-specific component models and settings only after resolving simpler issues. This approach ensures efficient use of time and resources, focusing expert efforts on the most challenging problems. F i g u re 2 : T h e t a s ks a re p r i o r i t i ze d b a s e d o n t h e i r c o m p l ex i t y a n d t i m e re q u i re m e nt s . ▼