Implementation and Verification of AHB 5.0 to APB Bridge

Abstract

The integration of distinct bus protocols, such as the Advanced High-performance Bus (AHB) and the Advanced Peripheral Bus (APB), is essential in modern System-on-Chip (SoC) designs to enable efficient communication between high-performance computational units and slower peripheral devices. This research presents the design and verification of an AHB-to-APB bridge, a critical component that facilitates this integration by ensuring seamless data transfer and protocol translation between the two bus systems. The focus of this work is the development of a verification testbench environment tailored for a single master and single slave AHB-to-APB bridge. Utilizing SystemVerilog, the testbench is designed to achieve robust functional coverage, thoroughly validating the bridge’s operation across a wide range of scenarios. In addition to the functional verification, this study also delves into the

Register-Transfer Level (RTL) to GDSII implementation flow of the AHB-to-APB bridge. Emphasis is placed on optimizing the design for both performance and area efficiency, addressing the critical trade-offs inherent in digital design. The proposed verification environment not only ensures compliance with design specifications but also con- tributes to the overall reliability and efficiency of the bridge within the SoC architecture. This work represents a significant step towards the development of highly efficient and reliable AHB-to-APB bridges, ultimately contributing to the advancement of SoC design methodologies.