Types of bins

Eswara prasad
p
Bins
› Bin is something that collects coverage information. Bins
created for cover points.
› Each bin is either single value or multiple set of values.
› When any one of those values in bin is hit ,that bins
treated is covered.
› If bin construct is not used, cover point generates
automatic bins based on the variable size
Ex: bit[3:0] addr; //16 bins created if we not used bin
› bins b1 = {[0:15]};
› if any value hit in between 0 to 15 then b1 bin treated as
covered.
Types of bins
› Bins can be declare in two ways,
1. Implicit bins : max no.of bins automatically created bins
when no bins are explicitly defined for coverpoint.
2. Explicit bins :“bins” keyword is used to declare the bins
explicitly to a variable.

EX: rand bit[11:0] addr;

covergroup cg;
› P1:coverpoint addr;
› How many bins create ?
› class implicit_bins; › module top;
› rand bit[4:0] addr; › implicit_bins s;
› initial begin
› covergroup cg; › s = new();
› P1:coverpoint addr; › assert(s.randomize());
› endgroup › s.cg.sample();
› function new(); › $display("addr
› cg=new(); %0b",s.addr);

› endfunction › end
› endmodule
› endclass
OUTPUT
Types of explicit bins
› Simple bins
› Fixed array of bins
› Dynamic array of bins
› Transition bins
› Wildcard bins
› illegal bins
› Ignore bins
EX
› class coverage;
› rand bit [4:0] addr ;

› covergroup cg;
› P1: coverpoint addr {
› bins b1[] = {3,5,6,7,8,12};//dynamic array of bin
› bins b2[5] = {[15:20]};//fixed array of bin
› bins b3 = {1};//simple bins
› bins b4[] = {[21:$]}; // hereto end
› }
› endgroup
› endclass
Output
› class coverage;
› rand bit [4:0] addr;
› covergroup cg;
› P1: coverpoint addr {
› bins b1[] = {[1:10]};
› bins b2[5] = {[1:10]};
› bins b3[4] = {[1:10]};
› bins b4[3] = {[1:10]};
› bins b5[2] = {[1:10]};
› }
› endgroup
Output
› class coverage; › * Warning: (vsim-8546)
› rand bit [4:0] addr; The number of values
specified '2' is less than
› covergroup cg; the size '3' of fixed-size
› P1: coverpoint addr array bin 'b7' in
{ Coverpoint 'P1' of
Covergroup instance
› bins b6[2] = {[6:8]};
› The '1' empty bins will not
› bins b7[3] = contribute towards
{[9:10]}; coverage
› }
› endgroup
Transition bins
› Transition bins are used to capture transitions from value
to another. We can use this sample for any specific
transition.
› Single value transitions : value1 => value2
› Sequence of transitions : value1 => value2 => value3
› Set of transition : range1 => range2
› Consecutive repetition of transition :
signal_name[*repeat range]
signal_name[*range1:range2] //range

› Nonconsecutive repetition of transition :

signal_name[->repeat_range]
› class trans;
› bit [2:0] addr;

› covergroup cg;
› P1:coverpoint addr{
› bins b1 = (1=>2=>3);
› bins b2[] = (1,4 =>5,6);
› bins b3 = (1=>2=>3=>4=>5=>6=>7);
› bins b4[] = (1=>3,1=>4,2=>3,2=>4);
› bins b6 = (5[*3]);//consecutive repeation operator
› bins b7 = (2[->3]);//non-consecutive repeation operator
›
› }
› endgroup
Output
Wildcard bins
› We know , a value of bins definition can
specify 4-state values.
› A wildcard bin definition causes all x, z (or) ?
to be treated as wildcards for 0 or 1.
› These are mostly use when we are interested
in some of the bits of the signal and rest can
be don’t care.
› EX: wildcard bins b1 = (3’b11x);
› It will take values of 3’b110 and 3’b111
› module top;
› logic [3:0] addr;
› reg ce;
› covergroup cov_cg@(posedge ce);
› CP : coverpoint addr {
› wildcard bins adr0 = {4'b?11?};
› wildcard bins adr1[] = (4'b?1x0 => 4'bx0?0);
› wildcard bins adr2 = (4'b1x?0 => 4'b?0z0);
› }
› endgroup
›
OUTPUT
Ignore bins
› Ignore bins are bins which are used to specify the
values that should not be counted for coverage.
› A set of values or transitions associated with a
coverage-point can be explicitly excluded from
coverage by specifying them as ignore bins.
Without ignore_bins

› class coverage;
› rand bit [6:0] addr;
› covergroup cg;
› P1: coverpoint addr;
› endgroup
With ignore bins
› class coverage;
› rand bit [6:0] addr;
› covergroup cg;
› P1: coverpoint addr{
› ignore_bins b1 = {[20:60]};
› }
› endgroup
Illegal bins
› Illegal bins are bins which are used to define
invalid bins.
› If the signal or variable takes this value an error
will be generated.
› A set of values or transitions associated with a
coverage-point can be explicitly excluded from
coverage by specifying them as illegal bins.
Without illegal bins
› class coverage;
› rand bit [4:0] addr;
› covergroup cg;
› P1: coverpoint addr{
› bins b1 = {1,5,8,10};
› bins b3[] = {[12:30]};
› }
› endgroup
With illegal_bins
› class coverage;
› rand bit [4:0] addr;
› covergroup cg;
› P1: coverpoint addr{
› bins b1 = {1,5,8,10};
› bins b3[] = {[12:30]};
› illegal_bins b4 = {12,13,15};
› }
› endgroup
› For the above code,
› ** Error: (vsim-8565) Illegal state bin was hit at
value=12. The bin counter for the illegal bin
‘ill_sv_unit::coverage::cg .P1.b4' is 1.
› ** Error: (vsim-8565) Illegal state bin was hit at
value=12. The bin counter for the illegal bin
'ill_sv_unit::coverage::cg .P1.b4' is 2.
Thank you