High level simulation and hardware description languages

There is a very strong requirement for high level mixed-signal simulation in the design of complex mixed-signal ASICs, for design verification, design analysis and system level modelling. The key issues in such simulations are high level analogue modelling, and compatibility between analogue and digital simulation. The two main alternative approaches are to link together a circuit simulator and a logic simulator, providing some method of high level analogue modelling in the circuit simulator, or to develop high level event-driven models of analogue functions in the context of a digital simulator. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach.