Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a test device ( 20 ) for an analog circuit ( 12 ) to be mounted on a mixed circuit ( 10 ) including said analog circuit and a synchronous digital circuit. The test device includes a disturbance emulator ( 22 ) connected to a first supply source (UrefD) capable of disturbing a second supply source (UrefA) of the analog circuit, the first and second supply sources being optionally merged, the emulator being adapted for receiving data representative of the evolution, during a given duration, of the average (μI) and the typical deviation (σI) of a first inrush current (I) that would be applied to the first supply source by the digital circuit, and being adapted for applying to the first supply source during successive intervals, each successive interval having said duration, a second inrush current (I rep ) equal to the sum of the average and of the product of the typical deviation and of a pseudo-random signal varying according to a Gaussian law.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and a device for testing an analog circuit of a circuit having digital and analog parts. 
       DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    A combined digital/analog circuit comprises analog components and logic (or digital) components which can be connected to a same power source or to different power sources which corrupt one another with noise through various parasitic elements, such as resistors, capacitors, or inductances. 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a combined electronic circuit  10  comprising analog components, forming a circuit  12  (A), called analog circuit. Circuit  12  may correspond to amplifiers, analog filters, analog-to-analog, analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converters, oscillators, etc. Circuit  10  also comprises logic components, for example, logic gates, flip-flops, etc. forming a circuit  14  (D) called logic circuit or digital circuit. The power supply of the components of analog circuit  12  is obtained by connecting circuit  12  to a source of a first reference potential Vref A  and to a source of a second reference potential, for example, ground GND A  of the analog circuit. Voltage Uref A , which corresponds to the difference between the first and second reference potentials, is called the power supply voltage of the analog circuit. The power supply of the components of digital circuit  14  is obtained by connecting circuit  14  to a source of a third reference potential Vref D  and to a source of a fourth reference potential, for example, ground GND D  of the digital circuit. Voltage Uref D , which corresponds to the difference between the third and fourth reference potentials, is called the power supply voltage of the digital circuit. 
         [0004]    In most cases, digital circuit  14  operates synchronously, that is, it operates at the rate of one or several clock signals which time the operation of logic components such as flip-flops. Thereby, during the operation of digital circuit  14 , many simultaneous or nearly simultaneous switchings of the signals used by the logic components can be observed. Such simultaneous or nearly simultaneous switchings translate as significant current surges on the side of the power supply of digital circuit  14 . This translates as noise on the side of analog circuit  12 , especially as to the power supply of analog circuit  12 , the potential distribution in the substrate of analog circuit  12 , etc. As an example, temporary variations of power supply voltage Uref A  can be observed. Such noise on the side of analog circuit  12  causes a degradation of the performances of analog circuit  12 . 
         [0005]    Generally, in the development of electronic circuit  10 , analog circuit  12  is tested independently from digital circuit  14 , especially to determine its performance. However, in such a test, the noise affecting analog circuit  12 , especially the variations of power supply voltage Uref A  of analog circuit  12  due to the operation of digital circuit  14 , is not taken into account. The performance degradation of analog circuit  12 , which result from the joint use of analog and digital circuits  12  and  14  thus cannot be determined. 
         [0006]    To take into account the noise in analog circuit  12 , especially the variation of power supply voltage Uref A  of analog circuit  12  due to the operation of digital circuit  14 , a possibility is to form a test device comprising analog circuit  12  to be tested and digital circuit  14 . However, since the structure of digital circuit  14  may greatly vary during the development process of electronic circuit  10 , it is necessary to construct a new test circuit for each possible variation of digital circuit  14 , which is too expensive. 
         [0007]    It is thus desired to test analog circuit  12 , rather than with digital circuit  14 , with a circuit having a much simpler structure simulating the noise of power supply voltage Uref D  which would be observed in the operation of digital circuit  14 . 
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a test device  20  comprising analog circuit  12  and an emulator  22  intended to reproduce, at least partially, the noise of power supply voltage Uref D  due to digital circuit  14 . 
         [0009]    Emulator  22  must meet several requirements. It must be as simple as possible so that the manufacturing cost of test circuit  20  is as low as possible. It must however reproduce the noise of power supply voltage Uref D  due to digital circuit  14  with a sufficient accuracy so that the test provides pertinent data relative to the performance decrease of analog circuit  12 . Finally, a same emulator  22  must, after reprogramming, be able to reproduce the noise due to different digital circuits  14 , to avoid having to design a test device  20  for each digital circuit  14  with which analog circuit  12  is capable of being used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention aims at a method and at a device for testing an analog circuit intended to operate jointly with a synchronous digital circuit. 
         [0011]    According to another object, the test device has a relatively simple design. 
         [0012]    According to another object, the test device enables to reproduce noise of the power supply voltage close to that which would be observed during the operation of the digital circuit. 
         [0013]    According to another object, the test device enables to easily test an analog circuit intended to be used with different digital circuits. 
         [0014]    The present invention thus provides a device for testing an analog circuit, for a combined circuit comprising this analog circuit and a synchronous digital circuit, said test device comprising a noise emulator connected to a first power supply source capable of disturbing a second power supply source of the analog circuit, where the first and second power supply sources may be a single supply source, the emulator being capable of receiving data representative of the variation, over a given time period, of the average and of the standard deviation of a first surge current which would be applied to the first power supply source by the digital circuit, and being capable of applying to the first power supply source, over successive intervals, each successive interval having the duration of said time period, a second surge current equal to the sum of the average and of the product of the standard deviation and of a pseudo-random signal varying according to a Gaussian law. 
         [0015]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises at least one circuit for providing the pseudo-random signal capable of providing a new value of the pseudo-random signal for each successive interval; and a noise generation circuit capable of applying the second surge current to the first power supply source. 
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the noise generation circuit comprises a processing unit receiving the pseudo-random signal and the representative data and providing control signals; and noise elements, each noise element being connected to the first power supply source and being capable of being controlled by one of the control signals to provide an elementary surge current. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the noise generation circuit comprises a first stage comprising a transmission element receiving a clock signal; second successive stages each comprising several groups of at least one transmission element, the input of said at least one transmission element of each group being connected to the output of the transmission element or of one of the transmission elements of the previous stage; and a last stage comprising a first plurality of transmission elements, the input of each of the first plurality of transmission elements being connected to one of the transmission elements of the previous stage and the output of each of the first plurality of transmission elements being connected to a second plurality of transmission elements. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, each noise element comprises a switching element, receiving one of the control signals, in series with a capacitor, the switching element being capable of being on or off according to the control signal. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the first plurality of transmission elements has a transmission duration which depends on the transmission element. 
         [0020]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a circuit for providing a clock signal to the circuit for providing the pseudo-random signal and to the noise generation circuit. 
         [0021]    The present invention also provides a method for testing an analog circuit for a combined circuit comprising this analog circuit and a synchronous digital circuit, comprising the steps of: 
         [0022]    providing a test device or a test device simulation comprising or simulating the analog circuit and a noise emulator connected to a first power supply source capable of disturbing a second power supply source of the analog circuit, where first and second power supply sources may be a single supply source; 
         [0023]    providing the emulator with data representative of the variation, over a given time period, of the average and of the standard deviation of a first surge current which would be applied to the first power supply source by the digital circuit; and 
         [0024]    having the emulator apply or simulate the fact of applying to the first power supply source, over successive intervals, each interval having the duration of said time period, a second surge current equal to the sum of the average and of the product of the standard deviation and of a pseudo-random signal varying according to a Gaussian law. 
         [0025]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the provision of said representative data comprises the steps of: 
         [0026]    estimating the variation of the first surge current over several successive intervals each having said duration; and 
         [0027]    determining, for each first time among first successive times of an interval having said duration, the average of the values of the first surge current at second times, each second time being equal to the first time modulo said duration, and the standard deviation of the values of the first surge current at said second times. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The foregoing objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as others, will be discussed in detail in the following non-limiting description of specific embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, among which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1 , previously described, schematically shows a digital/analog electronic circuit; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2 , previously described, schematically shows a device for testing an analog circuit; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows an example of the variation of the surge current in the operation of a digital circuit; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows an example of the variation of the average and of the standard deviation of the surge current in the operation of a digital circuit; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates the principle of surge current reproduction; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows, in the form of a block diagram, an example of a method for determining statistical characteristics of the surge current of a digital circuit; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of a noise emulator according to the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  schematically shows an embodiment of a portion of the emulator of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  illustrates the operation of the emulator portion of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of another portion of the emulator of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the operating principle of the emulator portion of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0040]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show variations of the emulator of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    For clarity, the same elements have been designated with the same reference numerals in the different drawings. 
         [0042]    The applicant has set about constructing a noise emulator having a relatively simple structure and enabling, in operation, to reproduce the surge current peaks resulting from the operation of a conventional digital circuit. First, the applicant has envisaged the possibility of using a digital circuit emulator enabling to obtain surge current peaks distributed randomly along time. However, the applicant has shown that during the test of an analog circuit with such an emulator, the obtained performance decrease is not representative of the effective performance decrease observed when the analog circuit operates with the digital circuit. The applicant has then further examined the variation of the surge current observed during the operation of a conventional digital circuit. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows an example of the variation of surge current I during the operation of a synchronous digital circuit rated by a clock signal of period P. The applicant has shown that, for most synchronous digital circuits, the variation curve of surge current I has remarkable statistical characteristics. Indeed, the variation curve of surge current I comprises surge current peaks  24  which are not randomly distributed along time but which occur substantially at the same times for each clock cycle or group of clock cycles. However, the amplitude of the current peaks generally varies from one clock cycle to the other or from one group of clock cycles to another. 
         [0044]    The applicant has shown that it is sufficient to design a noise emulator which, in operation, enables to obtain a surge current I rep  reproducing a number of statistical characteristics of the surge current I which would be observed with the digital circuit. More specifically, the applicant has shown that it is sufficient for the reproduced surge current I rep  to have the same average and the same standard deviation as the surge current I which would be observed with the digital circuit. The testing of an analog circuit with the noise emulator then enables to determine a performance decrease representative of the performance decrease effectively observed when the analog circuit operates jointly with the digital circuit. 
         [0045]    To achieve this, it is sufficient for the noise emulator to enable to obtain a reproduced surge current I rep  according to the following relation: 
         [0000]        I   rep ( t )=μ I ( t[T] )+σ I ( t[T] )* X ( t )   (1)
 
         [0046]    where T is a reference duration, for example, equal to the clock period of the digital circuit or to a multiple of the clock period; 
         [0047]    t[T] means t modulo T; 
         [0048]    μ I  corresponds to the average of surge current I over interval [0, T]; 
         [0049]    σ I  corresponds to the standard deviation of the surge current over interval [0, T]; and 
         [0050]    X is a random function obeying a normal distribution. Function X is constant over each interval [kT, (k+1)T], where k is an integer greater than or equal to zero. 
         [0051]    When the variation curve of surge current I associated with a digital circuit is known for a duration equal to N*T, average μ I  may be obtained from the following relation, for t ranging within [0, T]: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       μ 
                       I 
                     
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       t 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       N 
                     
                      
                     
                       
                         ∑ 
                         
                           k 
                           = 
                           0 
                         
                         
                           k 
                           = 
                           N 
                         
                       
                        
                       
                         I 
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             t 
                             + 
                             kT 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   2 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    and standard deviation σ I  may be obtained from the following relation, for t ranging within [0, T]: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       σ 
                       I 
                     
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       t 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         N 
                       
                        
                       
                         
                           ∑ 
                           
                             k 
                             = 
                             0 
                           
                           
                             k 
                             = 
                             N 
                           
                         
                          
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 I 
                                  
                                 
                                   ( 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     + 
                                     kT 
                                   
                                   ) 
                                 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 
                                   μ 
                                   I 
                                 
                                  
                                 
                                   ( 
                                   t 
                                   ) 
                                 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   3 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0052]      FIG. 4  shows examples of variation curves of average μ I  and of standard deviation σ I  obtained from the variation curve of surge current I shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  illustrates the principle of the determination of the reproduced surge current I rep  based on relation (1) and shows, in dotted lines, the variation curves of average μ I  and of standard deviation σ I  which are produced for each successive time interval of duration T, in thin lines, function X and, in thick lines, the obtained variation curve of reproduced current I rep . 
         [0054]      FIG. 6  shows, in the form of a block diagram, an example of a method for determining average μ I  and standard deviation σ I  of the surge current associated with digital circuit  14 , such statistical characteristics being then provided to emulator  22  to test analog circuit  12 . 
         [0055]    Step  30  gathers all the steps generally implemented in the design of digital circuit  14 . As an example, the design of digital circuit  14  comprises: 
         [0056]    a specification determination step comprising, for example, dividing digital circuit  14  into different functional blocks; 
         [0057]    a step of description of the behavior of each functional block in a hardware description language (HDL), for example, VHDL or Verilog; 
         [0058]    a step of simulation of the behavioral description, for example implemented by means of the SMASH software sold by Dolphin Integration; 
         [0059]    a generally-called “Synthesis” step which comprises providing, based on the HDL behavioral description, a file called Netlist, for example, in Verilog language, which corresponds to a list of interconnections of logic gates of a library; 
         [0060]    a step of simulation after synthesis of the Netlist file, for example implemented by means of the SMASH software sold by Dolphin Integration; 
         [0061]    a generally-called “placing and routing” step which comprises, based on the Netlist file, determining a concrete representation of digital circuit  14  where the positions of the logic components and of the tracks connecting them are specified. The result of the “placing and routing” step is a geometric description of digital circuit  14 , called Layout, for example in format GDS2. It is also possible to provide a so-called delay file, for example, in SDF format, which contains the delays of the gates and interconnections. Further, the placing and routing step may cause a modification of the Netlist file, for example, when a clock tree must be provided. A new Netlist file, for example, in Verilog language, is then provided; and 
         [0062]    a step of simulation of the modified Netlist file taking the delays into account, for example, implemented by means of the SMASH software sold by Dolphin Integration. 
         [0063]    At step  32 , digital circuit  14  is simulated based on the modified Netlist file and on the delay file, to determine an estimate of the variation of surge current I resulting from the operation of digital circuit  14 . Such a simulation may be implemented with the SMASH software sold by Dolphin Integration. Such a simulation is generally reserved to analog circuits. The result of step  32  is the obtaining of files, for example, in DAT format, representative of the variation of surge current I along time. 
         [0064]    At step  34 , a statistic processing of the files obtained at the previous step is carried out to determine functions μ I  and σ I . For this purpose, the variation curve of surge current I is divided into N intervals of duration T, where duration T may correspond to the period of the clock signal of the digital circuit or to a multiple of this period. Over time interval [0, T], M successive times t i  are defined, i being an integer ranging between 0 and M−1, and times t i  ranging between 0 and T. Average μ I  and standard deviation σ I  are determined at times t i  based on relations (2) and (3) as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       μ 
                       I 
                     
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         t 
                         i 
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       N 
                     
                      
                     
                       
                         ∑ 
                         
                           k 
                           = 
                           0 
                         
                         
                           k 
                           = 
                           N 
                         
                       
                        
                       
                         I 
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               t 
                               i 
                             
                             + 
                             kT 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   4 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       σ 
                       I 
                     
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         t 
                         i 
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         N 
                       
                        
                       
                         
                           ∑ 
                           
                             k 
                             = 
                             0 
                           
                           
                             k 
                             = 
                             N 
                           
                         
                          
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 I 
                                  
                                 
                                   ( 
                                   
                                     
                                       t 
                                       i 
                                     
                                     + 
                                     kT 
                                   
                                   ) 
                                 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 
                                   μ 
                                   I 
                                 
                                  
                                 
                                   ( 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     i 
                                   
                                   ) 
                                 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   5 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0065]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of a noise emulator  22  according to the invention. Emulator  22  comprises an interface circuit  42  capable of receiving data DATA. Interface circuit  42  provides a clock period reference S T  to a circuit  44  capable of providing a clock signal CLK. To simplify the rest of the description, it is considered that duration T corresponds to the period of clock signal CLK. Interface  42  provides an initialization reference S INI  to a circuit  46  receiving clock signal CLK and providing a signal S. Further, interface circuit  42  provides signals S μ  and S σ  to a noise generation circuit  48  connected to reference voltage source Vref D  and to ground GND D . Noise generation circuit  48  also receives clock signal CLK and signal S X . 
         [0066]    Interface circuit  42  for example comprises a shift register, data DATA being provided in series to the register. 
         [0067]    Data DATA comprise signals S μ  and S σ , clock period reference S T , and initialization reference S INI . Signal S μ  is representative of average μ I  and signal S σ  is representative of standard deviation σ I . Signals S μ  and S σ  are not necessarily identical to data μ I  and σ I  obtained at step  34  of the previously-described method. Indeed, a prior processing of data μ I  and σ I  may be provided before their transmission to interface circuit  42 . 
         [0068]    Circuit  44  for providing clock signal CLK for example has the structure of a ring oscillator. Signal CLK for example corresponds to a periodic square signal of duty cycle ½, having its period depending on reference S T . As an example, circuit  44  may comprise an inverter having its output looped back on its input, with a propagation time that may be modified according to reference S T . 
         [0069]    According to a variation, circuit  44  for providing clock signal CLK is not integrated to emulator  22 . Clock signal CLK used by emulator  22  is then provided by a device external to emulator  22 . 
         [0070]    Circuit  46  provides signal S X  which is representative of random value X obeying a reduced centered Gaussian distribution. Circuit  46  is capable of providing a new value of signal S X  for each clock cycle CLK. 
         [0071]      FIG. 8  shows a simplified embodiment of circuit  46 . Circuit  46  comprises a succession of five flip-flops L 0  to L 4 , each receiving clock signal CLK. Each flip-flop L 0  to L 4  delivers a bit bit 0  to bit 4 . A processing unit  49  receives bits bit 0  to bit 4  and clock signal CLK and provides signal S. The output of flip-flop L 0  drives the input of flip-flop L 1 . The output of flip-flop L 1  drives the input of flip-flop L 2 . The output of flip-flop L 2  drives a first input of an adder SUM. The output of adder SUM drives flip-flop L 3 . The output of flip-flop L 3  drives the input of flip-flop L 4 . The output of flip-flop L 4  drives the input of flip-flop L 0  and a second input of adder SUM. Adder SUM for example corresponds to an XOR-type logic gate. The position of adder SUM may be modified with respect to what is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0072]    The operation of circuit  46  is the following: the initial values of bits bit 0  to bit 4  are imposed by reference S INI  provided by interface circuit 42. In operation, for each rising edge of clock signal CLK, each flip-flop L 0  to L 4  reproduces at its output the binary value present at its input during the previous period of the clock signal. A new series of bits bit 0  to bit 4  is thus obtained for each clock cycle CLK. 
         [0073]      FIG. 9  shows an example of the variation of bits bit 0  to bit 4  for five successive cycles of clock signal CLK. Calling Y the sum of bits bit 0  to bit 4 , it can be shown that Y corresponds to a pseudo-random value which is all the closer to a Gaussian distribution of average μ Y  and of standard deviation σ Y  as the chain of flip-flops L 0  to L 4  is long. In practice, circuit  46  comprises a number of flip-flops that may be greater than 30. Random value X following a reduced centered Gaussian distribution may be equal to the ratio between value Y, minus μ Y , and σ Y . The signal S X  provided by processing unit  49  is equal to X. As an example, signal S X  is coded over 32 bits. In practice, the number of flip-flops of circuit  46  may be equal to the number of bits of signal S X . According to a variation, processing unit  49  is not present at the level of circuit  46  and the bits of signal S X  correspond to bits bit 0  to bit 4 . Value X may then be determined at the level of noise generation circuit  48  or at the level of an intermediary circuit between circuit  46  and circuit  48 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of noise generation circuit  48 . Circuit  48  for example has a structure similar to that of a clock tree. A clock tree enables to transmit the clock signal to the different logic components of a digital circuit and generally comprises several successive stages of inverters or of amplifiers (an amplifier corresponding to two series-assembled inverters). As an example, the first stage comprises an amplifier receiving the clock signal. The second stage comprises several amplifiers having their inputs connected to the output of the amplifier of the first stage. The next stages each comprise several groups of amplifiers, the inputs of the amplifiers of a same group being connected to the output of one of the amplifiers of the previous stage. The last stage of the clock tree comprises several groups of amplifiers, the inputs of the amplifiers of a same group being connected to the output of one of the amplifiers of the previous stage and the output of each amplifier being connected to a logic component of the digital circuit, generally a flip-flop. 
         [0075]    As an example, in  FIG. 10 , a noise generation circuit  48  based on the structure of a three-stages clock tree, with a first stage comprising an amplifier R receiving clock signal CLK and a second stage comprising two amplifiers R′ having their inputs connected to the output of amplifier R has been shown. The last stage of circuit  48  comprises a number M, equal to 4 in  FIG. 10 , of amplifiers R i , with i ranging between 0 and M−1. The inputs of amplifiers R i  are connected to the output of one of amplifiers R′ of the previous stage. The output of each amplifier R i  is connected to a number L, equal to 2 in  FIG. 10 , of switchable amplifiers Q i,j , with j ranging between 0 and L−1. The output of each amplifier Q i,j  is connected to a terminal of a capacitor C i,j  having its other terminal connected to ground GND D  or to reference potential Vref D . Amplifiers Q i,j  have an identical propagation delay. 
         [0076]    As described previously, number M corresponds to the number of times t i , with i ranging between 0 and M−1, in interval [0, T] for which average μ I  and standard deviation σ I  have been determined. With each amplifier R i , with i ranging between 0 and M−1, is associated a propagation time Δ i  corresponding to the time required for a signal received at the input of amplifier R i  to be provided at the output of amplifier R i . Clock signal CLK which propagates in the first stages of circuit  48  arrives substantially simultaneously at the level of amplifiers R i . Clock signal CLK then reaches amplifiers Q i,j , with j ranging between 0 and L−1, after a delay Δ i . Amplifiers R i  have propagation times which differ from one another so that the difference between Δ i  and Δ i−1 , with i ranging between 1 and M−1, is equal to the difference between t i  and t i−1 . Amplifiers Q i,j  having the same propagation time, clock signal CLK reaches capacitors C i,j  according to the same sequence as times t i . In the present example illustrated in  FIG. 10 , considering that clock signal CLK reaches capacitors C 0,0  and C 0,1  at a time t′ 0 , the same clock signal CLK reaches capacitors C 1,0  and C 1,1  at a time t′ 1 , capacitors C 2,0  and C 2,1  at a time t′ 2 , and capacitors C 3,0  and C 3,1  at a time t′ 3 , with times t′ 0 , t′ 1 , t′ 2 , and t′ 3  following one another according to the same sequence as respective times t 0 , t 1 , t 2 , and t 3 . 
         [0077]    Each amplifier Q i,j  is controlled by a control signal S i,j  and may be on or off according to the value of signal S i,j . Control signals S i,j  are provided by a processing unit  50  receiving signals CLK, S μ , S σ , and S X  When off, amplifier Q i,j  does not transmit clock signal CLK received at its input. When on, amplifier Q i,j  transmits the clock signal received at its input with a propagation time which is identical for all amplifiers Q i,j . 
         [0078]    Capacitors C i,j  are identical. As an example, the capacitance of each capacitor C i,j  is on the order of 100 fF. The application of a rising edge of clock signal CLK across a capacitor C i,j  translates as a current surge propagating to reference voltage source Vref D , which is connected to each of amplifiers R, R′, R i , and Q i,j . Thereby, at a given time, the amplitude of the surge current of circuit  48  depends on the number of capacitors which are simultaneously being charged. Number L corresponds to the accuracy with which the amplitude of the surge current may be obtained. Indeed, as will be described in further detail hereafter, circuit  48  can provide a surge current that can substantially take L+1 values. 
         [0079]    Initially, processing unit  50  receives signals S μ , S σ . For each new clock cycle, processing unit  50  receives a new value of signal S X  and determines the reproduced surge current I rep  to be obtained from relation (1) during a clock cycle. It then determines the control signals S i,j  to be provided so that, all along the clock cycle, the number of capacitors C i,j  being simultaneously charged or discharged at a given time enables to obtain the desired value of the surge current at this time. Control signals S i,j  may be determined from a look-up table or a calculation algorithm. Control signals S i,j  may be simultaneously sent to all amplifiers Q i,j , or successively sent to amplifiers Q i,j  during a clock cycle. Further, the control signals S i,j  determined during a clock cycle may be transmitted to amplifiers Q i,j  during the next clock cycle. 
         [0080]      FIG. 11  schematically shows an example of a variation curve of the reproduced surge current I rep  likely to be obtained with circuit  48  of  FIG. 10 . Two successive clock cycles P 0 , P 1  in the operation of circuit  48  have been shown. 
         [0081]      FIG. 12  shows, for cycles P 0 , P 1 , the values of control signals S i,j  provided by processing unit  50  and enabling to obtain the surge current of  FIG. 11 . It is assumed that a control signal S i,j  is at state “0” when the corresponding amplifier Q i,j  is off and is at state “1” when the corresponding amplifier Q i,j  is on. To simplify the description of the operation of circuit  48 , only the currents due to the charge of capacitors C i,j  are considered. Further, the propagation delay in amplifiers Q i,j  has been neglected. The operation of circuit  48  will now be detailed for clock cycle P 0 . At time t′ 0 , a rising edge of clock signal CLK reaches amplifier Q 0,0  and Q 0,1 . Since control signals S 0,0  and S 0,1  are at “0”, the associated capacitors C 0,0  and C 0,1  are not charged and the surge current is zero. At time t′ 1 , the rising edge of the clock signal reaches amplifiers Q 1,0  and Q 1,1 . Since signal S 1,0  is at “1” and signal 5 1,1  is at “0”, only capacitor C 1,1  charges, which corresponds to a surge current I 1 . At time t′ 2 , the rising edge of clock signal CLK reaches amplifiers Q 2,0  and  Q2,1 . Since control signals S 2,0  and S 2,1  both are at “1”, capacitors C 2,0  and C 2,1  charge, which corresponds to a greater surge current I 2 . At time t′ 3 , the rising edge of clock signal CLK reaches amplifiers Q 3,0  and Q 3,1 . Control signals S 3,0  and S 3,1  being at “0”, capacitors C 3,0  and C 3,1  are not charged and the surge current is zero. 
         [0082]    More specifically, when a rising edge of clock signal CLK reaches a capacitor C i,j , a fast rise of the surge current followed by a fast decrease of the surge current can be observed. Thereby, to obtain a “smooth” curve of surge current I rep , the charges of capacitors C i,j  and C i+1,j  must not be too distant from each other, that is, M must be sufficiently large. In this case, when a rising edge of clock signal CLK reaches a capacitor C i,j  and, after a given delay, a capacitor C i+1,j , the current surge due to the charge of capacitor C i,j  is not over when the current surge due to the charge of capacitor C i+1,j  starts. Thereby, to obtain a surge current of determined intensity at a given time, the number of capacitors to be charged at this given time is determined by taking into account the number of capacitors having started being charged at the times preceding the given time and which may still be under charge. 
         [0083]    The surge current which results from the operation of emulator  22  is essentially due to the charge and to the discharge of capacitors C i,j . However, processing unit  50  may, on determination of control signals S i,j , take into account the contribution of surge current I rep  of the other components of emulator  22 . 
         [0084]    The previously-described embodiment relates to an emulator  22  of a test device  20  of an analog circuit  12  for a digital/analog circuit  10  powered by a single power supply field Uref D  and rated by a single clock signal CLK. However, the present invention may apply to the testing of an analog circuit intended to equip a combined circuit powered by several different power supply sources and rated by several different clock signals. 
         [0085]      FIG. 13  shows in the form of a block diagram an emulator  60  which corresponds to a variation of emulator  22  adapted to the case where the combined circuit comprises a first digital circuit portion powered by a first supply field and a second digital circuit portion powered by a second supply field. Emulator  60  comprises two noise generation circuits  62 ,  64 , each receiving clock signal CLK and signal S X . Interface circuit  42  provides first noise generation circuit  62  with signals S μ1  and S σ1  representative of the average and of the standard deviation μ I1  and σ I1  of the surge current due to the portion of the digital circuit connected to a potential Vref D1 . Interface circuit  42  provides second noise generation circuit  64  with signals S μ2  and S σ2  representative of the average and of the standard deviation μ I2  and σ I2  of the surge current due to the portion of the digital circuit connected to a potential Vref D2 . The operation of each noise generation circuit  62 ,  64  may be identical to what has been previously described for noise generation circuit  48 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 14  shows an emulator  70  which corresponds to a variation of emulator  22  adapted to the case where the combined circuit comprises a first digital circuit portion rated by a first clock signal CLK 1  and a second digital circuit portion rated by a second clock signal CLK 2 . Interface circuit  42  is capable of providing a first period reference S T1  to a first circuit  72  for providing clock signal CLK 1  and a second clock period reference S T2  to a second circuit  74  for providing clock signal CLK 2 . Interface circuit  42  provides a first noise generation circuit  80  with signals S μ1  and S σ1  representative of the average and of the standard deviation μ I2  and σ I2  of the surge current due to the portion of the digital circuit rated by clock signal CLK 1 . Interface circuit  42  provides a second noise generation circuit  82  with signals S μ2  and S σ2  representative of the average and of the standard deviation μ I2  and σ I2  of the surge current due to the portion of the digital circuit rated by clock signal CLK 2 . A first circuit  76  provides a pseudo-random signal S X1  to circuit  80  and a second circuit  78  provides a second pseudo-random signal S X2  to second noise generation circuit  82 . 
         [0087]    The present invention enables to form a device  20  for testing a particularly simple analog circuit  12 . Indeed, emulator  22  has a much simpler structure than that of digital circuit  14  while reproducing the noise of power supply voltage Uref A  due to the operation of digital circuit  14 . The present invention thus enables to test analog circuit  12  and, in particular, to determine the performance decreases of analog circuit  12  when power supply voltage Uref A  of analog circuit  12  is corrupted with noise. Based on the obtained results, several actions may be envisaged to limit the performance decrease of analog circuit  12 . As an example, a better isolation between the digital and analog circuits may be provided. Further, the operating frequency range of combined circuit  10  may be narrowed. Digital circuit  14  may also be modified to better distribute the current surge peaks, for example, to spread them in time. 
         [0088]    Emulator  22  according to the invention further provides a great flexibility of use since data DATA provided to emulator  22  are representative of the standard deviation and average curves over a clock cycle or several successive clock cycles and thus have a low bulk. 
         [0089]    Further, a same emulator  22  may be used to reproduce the noise of power supply voltage Uref A  which would be due to different types of digital circuit  14 . Indeed, it is sufficient for this purpose to modify the values of average μ I  and of standard deviation σ I  provided to interface circuit  42 . The complexity of the noise likely to be reproduced by a same emulator depends on number M of branches of the last stage of noise generation circuit  48  and on number L of capacitors per branch of the last stage of noise generation circuit  48 . 
         [0090]    Although a method for testing an analog circuit has been described, it should be clear that the test method may be implemented by software means to test an analog circuit simulation. In this case, the method implements a software simulation of emulator  22  which is used with a software simulation of analog circuit  12 . The implementation of the test method is identical to what has been previously described, the electronic circuit elements being replaced with software elements. 
         [0091]    Of course, the present invention is likely to have various alterations and modifications which will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, any circuit capable of causing a current surge may be used instead of each capacitor C i,j  of noise generation circuit  48  or at least of some of them. As an example, each capacitor C i,j  may be replaced with a circuit comprising one or several MOS transistors. Further, although embodiments in which the digital/analog circuit comprises an analog circuit and a digital circuit connected to separate power supplies have been described, it should be clear that the present invention also applies to a digital/analog circuit in which the analog circuit and the digital circuit are connected to a single power supply likely to be corrupted with noise during the operation of the digital circuit.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6