This page provides detailed information about the Imperas Instruction Set Simulator for the Renesas RL78-S3 processor core.
Processor IP owner is Renesas (formerly NEC). More information is available from them here.
The Imperas Instruction Set Simulator (ISS) is a product of Imperas Software Ltd. It is a binary licensed by Imperas as a commercial product. It is also available in OVP packages for evaluation and demonstration.
The Imperas ISS uses the OVP Fast Processor Models and dynamically loads them as selected.The OVP Fast Processor Models are written using the OVP VMI API that provides a Virtual Machine Interface that defines the behavior of the processor.The VMI API makes a clear line between model and simulator allowing very good optimization and world class high speed performance.
The processor models are provided as a binary shared object and are also available as source (different models have different licensing conditions). This allows the download and use of the model binary or the use of the source to explore and modify the model.
The models have been run through an extensive QA and regression testing process.
If you develop your own processor models using the OVP VMI APIs then they can be used with the Imperas ISS.
Traditionally, processor models and simulators make use of one thread on the host PC.
Imperas have developed a technology, called QuantumLeap, that makes use of the many host cores found in modern PC/workstations to achieve industry leading simulation performance.
To find out about the Imperas parallel simulation lookup Imperas QuantumLeap.
There are videos of QuantumLeap on ARM here,
and MIPS here.
For press information related to QuantumLeap for ARM click here
or for MIPS click here.
Many of the OVP Fast Processor Models have been qualified to work with QuantumLeap - this is indicated for this model below.
This ISS executes instructions of the target architecture and provides an interface for debug access.
An interface to GDB is provided and this allows the connection of many industry standard debuggers that use the GDB/RSP interface.
For more information watch the OVP video here.
The ISS also works with the Imperas Multicore Debugger and advanced Verification, Analysis and Profiling tools.
This ISS uses the CPU with Model Variant name: RL78-S3
Description:
RL78 Family Processor Model.
Licensing:
Open Source Apache 2.0
Reference:
RL78 User Manual: Software, Single-Chip microcontrollers, http://documentation.renesas.com/doc/products/mpumcu/doc/rl78/r01us0015ej0220_rl78.pdf
Limitations:
The PMC (Processor Model Control) register behavior is not modeled.
This processor model requires that RAM is available at the address range of the memory mapped registers
Address ranges 0xFFEE0 to 0xFFEFF for General purpose registers (e.g. X, A)
Address ranges 0xFFFF0 to 0xFFFFF for special function registers (e.g. SP)
This processor model should be started with a reset signal. The processor reads from the reset vector 0x0000 on reset and uses this value for the initial PC
Verification:
Models have been tested by eSOL TRINITY and Imperas
Features:
All instructions are supported
Banked registers are supported
External exceptions are supported
The BRK instruction (internal trap) is supported
Memory mirroring is supported
Memory mapped registers is supported
The CPU model being used is downloadable (needs registration and to be logged in) in package rl78.model for Windows32 and for Linux32. Note that the CPU model is also available for 64 bit hosts as part of the commercial products from Imperas.
OVP simulator downloadable (needs registration and to be logged in) in package OVPsim for Windows32 and for Linux32. Note that the OVP simulator is also available for 64 bit hosts as part of the commercial products from Imperas.
OVP Download page here.
OVP documentation that provides overview information on processor models is available OVP_Guide_To_Using_Processor_Models.pdf.
Full model specific documentation on the variant (RL78-S3) being used in this ISS is available OVP_Model_Specific_Information_rl78_RL78-S3.pdf.
For more information on the Imperas ISS see the Imperas site and on the OVP Fast Processor model see the OVPworld site.
Location: The Fast Processor Model source and object file is found in the installation VLNV tree: renesas.ovpworld.org/processor/rl78/1.0
Processor Endian-ness: This model is little endian.
Processor ELF Code: The ELF code for this model is: 0xc5
QuantumLeap Support: The processor model has not yet been qualified to run in a QuantumLeap enabled simulator.
Information on the RL78-S3 OVP Fast Processor Model can also be found on other web sites::
www.ovpworld.org has the library pages http://www.ovpworld.org/library/wikka.php?wakka=CategoryProcessor
www.imperas.com has more information on the model library
http://www.ovpworld.org: Using OVP models with OSCI SystemC TLM2.0 platforms to gain 200-500 MIPS performance
http://www.ovpworld.org: Simulation Control of Platforms and Modules User Guide
http://www.ovpworld.org: Xilinx MicroBlaze Bare Metal Demos Video Presentation
http://www.ovpworld.org: ARC Demo Video Presentation
Currently available Instruction Set Simulator (ISS) Families.