The symptom: most operand values agree, but some inputs make two implementations that were supposed to match produce different outputs. Retiming moved logic across a register cut, so the two designs agree at the outputs while disagreeing on every internal register. The miter feeds both the same inputs and asserts equal outputs; what you learn here is what the induction needs in order to believe that.
The listing has three modules: the reference, the retimed twin with a BUG switch, and the miter pipe3_eq, which asserts equal outputs in every cycle after reset and carries one helper assertion across the moved cut under HELPER.
The twin's registers differ from the reference's: the reference holds a product where the twin holds its two factors.
The symptom of the twin variant W1 in the brief. Read the BUG == lines of the listing last, after you have read the trace.
// formal: prove 5 expect pass slang top pipe3_eq
`define FORMAL
// pipe3: three-stage arithmetic pipeline, y = ((a + b)[3:0] * c[3:0]) + 1 (8 bits). Registers: stage 1
// {s = a + b, c1 = c[3:0]}, stage 2 {p = s[3:0] * c1}, stage 3 {y = p + 1}. Latency 3 cycles. Synchronous
// active-high reset clears every register. Only a[3:0], b[3:0], c[3:0] influence y.
// pipe3_retimed: the same function and latency with the registers moved across the multiplier: stage 2
// {s2 = s[3:0], c2 = c1}, stage 3 {y = s2 * c2 + 1}. BUG selects a variant of the twin.
// pipe3_eq: a miter of pipe3 against pipe3_retimed with common inputs and reset; BUG goes to the twin.
module pipe3 #(parameter CHECK = 1) (
input wire clk,
input wire rst,
input wire [7:0] a,
input wire [7:0] b,
input wire [7:0] c,
output reg [7:0] y,
output wire [7:0] dbg_p // stage-2 register, exposed for the miter's helper assertion
);
reg [7:0] s;
reg [3:0] c1;
reg [7:0] p;
assign dbg_p = p;
always @(posedge clk) begin
if (rst) begin s <= 8'd0; c1 <= 4'd0; p <= 8'd0; y <= 8'd0; end
else begin
s <= a + b;
c1 <= c[3:0];
p <= s[3:0] * c1;
y <= p + 8'd1;
end
end
`ifdef FORMAL
// CHECK=0 switches the properties off (used when pipe3 sits inside the miter)
generate if (CHECK) begin : g_chk
reg init = 1'b1;
always @(posedge clk) init <= 1'b0;
always @(*) if (init) assume (rst);
// hist counts clean cycles since reset (saturates at 3): y is only specified after 3
reg [1:0] hist;
always @(posedge clk) begin
if (rst) hist <= 2'd0;
else if (hist != 2'd3) hist <= hist + 2'd1;
end
// input history as plain registers
reg [3:0] sa1, sb1, sc1, sa2, sb2, sc2, sa3, sb3, sc3;
always @(posedge clk) begin
sa1 <= a[3:0]; sb1 <= b[3:0]; sc1 <= c[3:0];
sa2 <= sa1; sb2 <= sb1; sc2 <= sc1;
sa3 <= sa2; sb3 <= sb2; sc3 <= sc2;
end
wire [3:0] sum3 = sa3 + sb3; // low 4 bits of a + b three cycles ago
// functional property with latency 3, checked only after 3 clean cycles
always @(*) if (!init && hist == 2'd3) a_latency3: assert (y == (sum3 * sc3) + 8'd1);
// the cycle after a reset the output register is 0
always @(posedge clk) if (!init && $past(rst)) a_reset_zero: assert (y == 8'd0);
always @(*) if (!init) c_y_nonzero: cover (hist == 2'd3 && y == 8'd7);
end endgenerate
`endif
endmodule
module pipe3_retimed #(parameter BUG = 0) (
input wire clk,
input wire rst,
input wire [7:0] a,
input wire [7:0] b,
input wire [7:0] c,
output reg [7:0] y,
output wire [3:0] dbg_s2, // stage-2 registers, exposed for the miter's helper assertion
output wire [3:0] dbg_c2
);
reg [7:0] s;
reg [3:0] c1;
reg [3:0] s2, c2;
assign dbg_s2 = s2;
assign dbg_c2 = c2;
always @(posedge clk) begin
if (rst) begin s <= 8'd0; c1 <= 4'd0; s2 <= 4'd0; c2 <= 4'd0; y <= 8'd0; end
else begin
s <= a + b;
c1 <= c[3:0];
s2 <= s[3:0];
c2 <= c1;
y <= s2 * ((BUG == 1) ? {1'b0, c2[2:0]} : c2) + 8'd1;
end
end
endmodule
module pipe3_eq #(parameter BUG = 0, parameter HELPER = 1) (
input wire clk,
input wire rst,
input wire [7:0] a,
input wire [7:0] b,
input wire [7:0] c,
output wire same
);
wire [7:0] y1, y2, p_ref;
wire [3:0] s2_ret, c2_ret;
pipe3 #(.CHECK(0)) u_ref (.clk(clk), .rst(rst), .a(a), .b(b), .c(c), .y(y1), .dbg_p(p_ref));
pipe3_retimed #(.BUG(BUG)) u_ret (.clk(clk), .rst(rst), .a(a), .b(b), .c(c), .y(y2), .dbg_s2(s2_ret), .dbg_c2(c2_ret));
assign same = (y1 == y2);
`ifdef FORMAL
reg init = 1'b1;
always @(posedge clk) init <= 1'b0;
always @(*) if (init) assume (rst);
always @(*) if (!init) a_equiv: assert (same);
// helper assertion across the moved register cut: the reference's stage-2 register equals the
// twin's stage-2 registers multiplied
generate if (HELPER) begin : g_helper
always @(*) if (!init) h_cut: assert (p_ref == s2_ret * c2_ret);
end endgenerate
always @(*) if (!init) c_nonzero: cover (y1 == 8'd7 && y2 == 8'd7);
`endif
endmodule// formal: cover 6 expect reached slang top pipe3_eq
`define FORMAL
// pipe3: three-stage arithmetic pipeline, y = ((a + b)[3:0] * c[3:0]) + 1 (8 bits). Registers: stage 1
// {s = a + b, c1 = c[3:0]}, stage 2 {p = s[3:0] * c1}, stage 3 {y = p + 1}. Latency 3 cycles. Synchronous
// active-high reset clears every register. Only a[3:0], b[3:0], c[3:0] influence y.
// pipe3_retimed: the same function and latency with the registers moved across the multiplier: stage 2
// {s2 = s[3:0], c2 = c1}, stage 3 {y = s2 * c2 + 1}. BUG selects a variant of the twin.
// pipe3_eq: a miter of pipe3 against pipe3_retimed with common inputs and reset; BUG goes to the twin.
module pipe3 #(parameter CHECK = 1) (
input wire clk,
input wire rst,
input wire [7:0] a,
input wire [7:0] b,
input wire [7:0] c,
output reg [7:0] y,
output wire [7:0] dbg_p // stage-2 register, exposed for the miter's helper assertion
);
reg [7:0] s;
reg [3:0] c1;
reg [7:0] p;
assign dbg_p = p;
always @(posedge clk) begin
if (rst) begin s <= 8'd0; c1 <= 4'd0; p <= 8'd0; y <= 8'd0; end
else begin
s <= a + b;
c1 <= c[3:0];
p <= s[3:0] * c1;
y <= p + 8'd1;
end
end
`ifdef FORMAL
// CHECK=0 switches the properties off (used when pipe3 sits inside the miter)
generate if (CHECK) begin : g_chk
reg init = 1'b1;
always @(posedge clk) init <= 1'b0;
always @(*) if (init) assume (rst);
// hist counts clean cycles since reset (saturates at 3): y is only specified after 3
reg [1:0] hist;
always @(posedge clk) begin
if (rst) hist <= 2'd0;
else if (hist != 2'd3) hist <= hist + 2'd1;
end
// input history as plain registers
reg [3:0] sa1, sb1, sc1, sa2, sb2, sc2, sa3, sb3, sc3;
always @(posedge clk) begin
sa1 <= a[3:0]; sb1 <= b[3:0]; sc1 <= c[3:0];
sa2 <= sa1; sb2 <= sb1; sc2 <= sc1;
sa3 <= sa2; sb3 <= sb2; sc3 <= sc2;
end
wire [3:0] sum3 = sa3 + sb3; // low 4 bits of a + b three cycles ago
// functional property with latency 3, checked only after 3 clean cycles
always @(*) if (!init && hist == 2'd3) a_latency3: assert (y == (sum3 * sc3) + 8'd1);
// the cycle after a reset the output register is 0
always @(posedge clk) if (!init && $past(rst)) a_reset_zero: assert (y == 8'd0);
always @(*) if (!init) c_y_nonzero: cover (hist == 2'd3 && y == 8'd7);
end endgenerate
`endif
endmodule
module pipe3_retimed #(parameter BUG = 0) (
input wire clk,
input wire rst,
input wire [7:0] a,
input wire [7:0] b,
input wire [7:0] c,
output reg [7:0] y,
output wire [3:0] dbg_s2, // stage-2 registers, exposed for the miter's helper assertion
output wire [3:0] dbg_c2
);
reg [7:0] s;
reg [3:0] c1;
reg [3:0] s2, c2;
assign dbg_s2 = s2;
assign dbg_c2 = c2;
always @(posedge clk) begin
if (rst) begin s <= 8'd0; c1 <= 4'd0; s2 <= 4'd0; c2 <= 4'd0; y <= 8'd0; end
else begin
s <= a + b;
c1 <= c[3:0];
s2 <= s[3:0];
c2 <= c1;
y <= s2 * ((BUG == 1) ? {1'b0, c2[2:0]} : c2) + 8'd1;
end
end
endmodule
module pipe3_eq #(parameter BUG = 0, parameter HELPER = 1) (
input wire clk,
input wire rst,
input wire [7:0] a,
input wire [7:0] b,
input wire [7:0] c,
output wire same
);
wire [7:0] y1, y2, p_ref;
wire [3:0] s2_ret, c2_ret;
pipe3 #(.CHECK(0)) u_ref (.clk(clk), .rst(rst), .a(a), .b(b), .c(c), .y(y1), .dbg_p(p_ref));
pipe3_retimed #(.BUG(BUG)) u_ret (.clk(clk), .rst(rst), .a(a), .b(b), .c(c), .y(y2), .dbg_s2(s2_ret), .dbg_c2(c2_ret));
assign same = (y1 == y2);
`ifdef FORMAL
reg init = 1'b1;
always @(posedge clk) init <= 1'b0;
always @(*) if (init) assume (rst);
always @(*) if (!init) a_equiv: assert (same);
// helper assertion across the moved register cut: the reference's stage-2 register equals the
// twin's stage-2 registers multiplied
generate if (HELPER) begin : g_helper
always @(*) if (!init) h_cut: assert (p_ref == s2_ret * c2_ret);
end endgenerate
always @(*) if (!init) c_nonzero: cover (y1 == 8'd7 && y2 == 8'd7);
`endif
endmoduleExpected outcomes: proved, then reached.
Variant | Edit the header of the block above to | Expected category |
|---|---|---|
W1 |
| counterexample |
Produce | How |
|---|---|
The smallest induction window with the helper and without | Sweep the depth of the proof with |
The twin fault | Failing property, failing step, smallest failing depth, cause and fix. |
A statement about a bounded run one depth short | What would a bounded pass at that depth have meant, and why is the evidence late? |
Rows |
|
The miter is proved with the helper at the window you report.
Without the helper, a window shorter than the one you report is inconclusive and a longer one proves.
The twin variant gives a counterexample at the depth you report and not at one depth lower.
# ---- formal lab results ledger, engine v2: every row cites a typed run (kind, depth, outcome[, design]) ----
STATUS = ("proven", "bounded", "cex", "cover-reached", "inconclusive")
FROM_RUN = {"proven": {("prove", "proved")},
"bounded": {("bmc", "bounded")},
"cex": {("bmc", "counterexample"), ("prove", "counterexample")},
"cover-reached": {("cover", "reached")},
"inconclusive": {("prove", "unproven"), ("cover", "not-reached")}}
NEED = {"sync_fifo": 9, "rr_arbiter": 5, "hs_bridge": 4, "csr_block": 3,
"pipe3": 5, "pipe3_eq": 5, "mod10_counter": 15, "toggle_demo": 4}
KEYS = ("property", "design", "status", "bound", "why", "run", "assumes", "cover", "kills", "rev")
REV = 3
ALWAYS = "reset-at-step-0"
TRACKED = "tracked-constant-stable"
def row_problems(e, runs, tracked):
n = e.get("property", "?")
miss = [k for k in KEYS if k not in e]
if miss:
return ["missing-field:%s:%s" % (n, ",".join(miss))]
if e["status"] not in STATUS:
return ["bad-status:" + n]
p = []
if e["rev"] != REV:
p.append("stale:" + n)
if e["run"] not in runs:
return p + ["no-such-run:" + n]
kind, depth, outcome = runs[e["run"]][:3]
if len(runs[e["run"]]) > 3 and runs[e["run"]][3] != e["design"]:
p.append("run-of-another-design:" + n) # a run typed with its design may be cited only by that design's rows
if (kind, outcome) not in FROM_RUN[e["status"]]:
p.append("status-not-from-run:" + n)
if e["bound"] != depth:
p.append("bound-not-run-depth:" + n)
has_cover = bool(str(e["cover"]).strip())
if e["status"] in ("proven", "bounded") and not (has_cover and e["kills"]):
p.append("no-evidence:" + n)
if e["status"] == "cover-reached" and not has_cover:
p.append("no-evidence:" + n)
if e["status"] == "cex" and not e["kills"]:
p.append("no-evidence:" + n)
if e["status"] == "bounded":
if e["design"] not in NEED:
p.append("unknown-design:" + n)
elif depth < NEED[e["design"]]:
p.append("short-bound:" + n)
if len(str(e["why"]).strip()) < 12:
p.append("unjustified:" + n)
if ALWAYS not in e["assumes"]:
p.append("hidden-assume:%s:%s" % (n, ALWAYS))
if n in tracked and TRACKED not in e["assumes"]:
p.append("hidden-assume:%s:%s" % (n, TRACKED))
return p
def ledger_ok(ledger, runs, required, mutants, register, tracked, final=True):
names = [e.get("property") for e in ledger]
bad = ["duplicate:" + n for n in sorted({n for n in names if names.count(n) > 1})]
bad += ["missing-row:" + r for r in sorted(set(required) - set(names))]
bad += [q for e in ledger for q in row_problems(e, runs, tracked)]
good = [e for e in ledger if not row_problems(e, runs, tracked)] # only a row without complaints counts as evidence
solid = {e["property"] for e in good if e["status"] in ("proven", "cover-reached")}
for a, rows in sorted(register.items()):
if rows is None:
if final:
bad.append("deferred-assume:" + a) # a stage may defer a discharge; a final package may not
elif not (rows and all(r in solid for r in rows)):
bad.append("open-assume:" + a)
bad += ["unregistered-assume:%s:%s" % (e.get("property"), a) for e in ledger
for a in e.get("assumes", []) if a not in register]
killed = {m for e in good if e["status"] == "cex" for m in e["kills"]}
bad += ["survivor:" + m for m in sorted(set(mutants) - killed)]
bad += ["unsupported-kill:%s:%s" % (e.get("property"), m) for e in ledger
if e.get("status") in ("proven", "bounded") for m in e.get("kills", []) if m not in killed]
return bad
def mutation_score(ledger, mutants):
assert mutants, "no mutants registered"
killed = {m for e in ledger if e.get("status") == "cex" for m in e.get("kills", [])}
return len(killed & set(mutants)) / len(mutants)
RUNS = {
"twin-prove": ("prove", 5, "proved"),
"twin-cover": ("cover", 6, "reached"),
}
REQUIRED = ["twin-equivalence", "twin-needs-cut-helper", "twin-cover"]
MUTANTS = ["twin-W1"]
REGISTER = {"reset-at-step-0": None} # discharged by the pair rows of stage 2
YOUR_ROWS = [] # fill from your own runs
bad = ledger_ok(YOUR_ROWS, RUNS, REQUIRED, MUTANTS, REGISTER, set(), final=False)
if YOUR_ROWS:
assert bad == [], bad
print("PASS: stage 3 twin package consistent")
else:
expected = ["missing-row:" + r for r in REQUIRED] + ["survivor:" + m for m in MUTANTS]
assert sorted(bad) == sorted(expected), bad
print("PASS: the empty package is rejected with %d complaints" % len(bad))Hint 1: an equivalence step starts from any pair of states, including pairs that cannot occur together. Ask what pair of internal states would make the outputs differ a cycle later.
Hint 2: the helper relates the reference's stage-2 register to the twin's; a longer window makes the same relation hold without it.
Hint 3: for the fault, vary one operand bit at a time and compare the two outputs at the first step a result can appear.
Hint 4: the failing step is the first step at which the result of the first input vector can be seen; a run that ends one step before it sees nothing.
When a miter fails everywhere, check alignment and reset before logic: a one-cycle skew or a reset-value difference drowns the real signal. When the step stalls, add the cut relation before adding depth, and keep the shorter bounded pass filed beside the longer counterexample so nobody re-learns the bound.
Nothing about the twin: the bound ends where the evidence begins. It proves only that the run can reach the step before the first visible result.
The multiplier moved across the cut: the reference holds the product where the twin holds the factors. The function is the same, so the outputs agree; the structure moved, so the registers differ.