Harry Foster, Principal Engineer, Mentor Graphics
Ping Yeung, Principal Engineer, Mentor Graphics

This paper introduces a process (consisting of a set of steps and guidelines) to plan for static-based formal verification closure, which complements today's simulation-based closure process. This paper introduces multiple techniques to improve proof results for difficult yet critical properties. Guidelines are presented on when it makes sense to abandon the proof effort (for a given property) when the return on effort is too low. Finally, this paper introduces alternative strategies (using a combination of formal and simulation techniques) to increase verification confidence on properties deemed too difficult to prove, which enables closure.