Synthesis of optimal clocking schemes

ABSTRACT

Clocking scheme synthesis includes the partitioning of functions into time steps, the number of clock phases, the length of each phase, (i.e. how to pipeline) and the assignment of functions to clock phases; each of these choices affects performance. Some important problems of clocking scheme synthesis are examined. Two efficient and powerful algorithms which synthesize near optimal clocking schemes have been programmed. These algorithms are applied to synthesis and/or performance evaluation of a design in progress. Optimizing the speed of a previously designed system is also considered.

REFERENCES

• 1: Alfred V. Aho , Jeffrey D. Ullman, Principles of Compiler Design (Addison-Wesley series in computer science and information processing), Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, 1977
• 2: L. W. Cotton, Circuit Implementation of High- Speed Pipeline Systems, In Proceedings of F JCC, pages 480-504. AFIPS, 1065.
• 3: E. Davidson, et. al., Effective Control for Pipelined Computers, In COMPCON Digest, pages 181-184. 1975.
• 4: L. Hafer and A. Parker, A Formal Method for the Specification Analysis, and Design of Register- Transfer Level Digital Logic, IEEE Trans. on Computer-Aided Design CAD-2(1), Jan. 1983.
• 5: Hewlett-Packard, HP 1000 E-Series and F-Series Computer Microprogramming Reference Manual Hewlett-Packard, 1978.
• 6: Robert M. Keller, Look-Ahead Processors, ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), v.7 n.4, p.177-195, Dec. 1975 [doi>10.1145/356654.356657]
• 7: P. M. Kog~e, The Architecture of th'pelined Computers, McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y., 1981.
• 8: A. Nagle, Automatic Design of Sequencers ?or The Control of Digital Hardware, PhD thesis, Carnegie-Mellon University, October, 1980.
• 9: N. Park and A. Parker, Synthesis of Optimal Clocking Schemes for Digital Systems, Technical Report DISC/84-1, Dept. of EE-Systems, University of Southern California, May, 1984.
• 10: N. Park and A. Parker, Synthesis of Optimal Pipeline Clocking Schemes, Technical Report DISC/85-1, Dept. of EE-Systems, University of Southern California, January, 1985.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.4 PERFORMANCE OF SYSTEMS
      Subjects: Modeling techniques

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.7 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
      B.7.2 Design Aids
          Subjects: Simulation

  J. Computer Applications

General Terms:
Design, Performance, Theory