Showing papers on "Electronic design automation published in 1972"
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TL;DR: Wire-routing is to the engineer it represents a change in his way of doing things and, particularly in the synthesis area of wire-routed, has not produced results as good as manual solutions in many cases.
Abstract: It is also an area of considerable controversy. To management it represents an overhead in terms of software development and computer execution costs, an overhead whose return is sometimes obscured. To the engineer it represents a change in his way of doing things and, particularly in the synthesis area of wire-routing, has not produced results as good as manual solutions in many cases.
50 citations
01 Jan 1972
TL;DR: Some of the recent developments in the automated design and analysis of digital systems are reviewed, and two new areas alluded to are centralized data base systems for design automation and interactive graphic computer-aided design.
Abstract: Some of the recent developments in the automated design and analysis of digital systems are reviewed Two new areas alluded to are centralized data base systems for design automation and interactive graphic computer-aided design The areas of gate level simulation, synthesis, partitioning, interconnection, and fault test generation are dealt with in more detail New algorithms in each of these areas are presented and compared, and a few important unsolved problems are mentioned Some of the systems, techniques, and/or algorithms discussed are: A Gate level simulation; 1) fault list propagation, 2) three-valued simulation B Synthesis; 1) register transfer level, 2) logic gate level C Partitioning; 1) clustering algorithms, 2) functional partitioning via simulation D Interconnect; 1) path seeking algorithms, 2) Steiner's problem E Fault test generation; 1) D algorithm, 2) Boolean difference, 3) equivalent normal form, 4) extensions to sequential circuits
33 citations
TL;DR: The areas of gate level simulation, synthesis, partitioning, interconnection and fault test generation are discussed, and new algorithms in each of these areas are presented and compared.
Abstract: In this paper we review some of the recent developments in the automated design and analysis of digital systems. The areas of gate level simulation, synthesis, partitioning, interconnection and fault test generation are discussed, and new algorithms in each of these areas are presented and compared.
23 citations
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: This paper presents the theory, algorithms and some programs for a system which departs radically from previous attempts at computer design aids for queueing network analysis, and allows the analyst greater freedom in choosing the models best suited for his system.
Abstract: Design automation techniques have been successfully used in wiring board layouts, circuit design analysis, and other areas. Simulation techniques have been used by system analysts to evaluate complex computer systems. In the early stages of a computer system design a designer will find an interactive package, which gives him real-time solutions for queueing models of complex computer systems, extremely useful. In the first few passes at a design, detailed simulation studies are too expensive and too slow. A conversational package which evaluates arbitrary configurations and gives approximate results is preferable to a slow, expensive, though accurate simulation. This paper is concerned with the real-time analysis of complex queueing network models which have been extensively used in computer systems analysis. In this paper we present the theory, algorithms and some programs for a system which departs radically from previous attempts at computer design aids for queueing network analysis in two ways: firstly the design automation system proposed here will give both algebraic and numerical answers to queries put forward by the analyst. For instance, the analyst may want to find out an algebraic expression for the throughput of a network as a function of several parameters. Or the analyst may want the output in the form of a graph of throughput as a function of a parameter. The system discussed in this paper will satisfy both types of requests. Secondly, the system allows the analyst to evaluate arbitrary networks constructed from a set of specified “building blocks.” The “building blocks” are quite general—they include queues with devices (servers), branches, joins, and so on. The analyst is allowed to use as many building blocks as he pleases, and he can interconnect these building blocks in any pattern he chooses. Thus the system is moderately flexible and allows the analyst greater freedom in choosing the models best suited for his system.
8 citations
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: An interactive computer-aided design system which converts a state table description of a small scale synchronous digital system into a logic diagram that can be read by a digital hardware simulation program.
Abstract: This paper describes an interactive computer-aided design system which converts a state table description of a small scale synchronous digital system into a logic diagram. The input to the design programs is a State Table and a Unit Control Table that is generated by another design automation program. The State Table sequences the operations of the system. The Unit Control Table describes the operations that are to be performed on the defined units of the digital system and the conditions under which the operations are to be performed. The output of the design system is a detailed logical design of the control logic of the digital system. The output is in the form of an interconnection diagram that can be read by a digital hardware simulation program.The Computer-Aided Logic Design (CALD) System is interactive to allow the designer to change various parameters and generate many different logic designs for any particular State Table. The user may specify the state assignment, the type of memory element, and the maximum allowed gate fan-in. CALD assists the designer in performing State Table reduction and generates the state assignment at the users option. The tabular description of the digital machine is translated into a Boolean description resulting in a set of cannonical form Boolean equations in sum of product form. Memory element application equations are generated. Boolean equation minimization is performed followed by a factoring routine to enforce the fan-in constraint. The equations are then translated into a logic diagram.The CALD system is implemented in FORTRAN and running on a mini-computer with 8K of core.
4 citations
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: The procedure presented in this paper may be applied to take fuller advantage of the computer's capabilities to accomplish the more tedious tasks in computer design.
Abstract: Design automation processors are best known for their ability to competently accomplish the more tedious tasks in computer design. Almost invariably they are restricted to tasks which occur after the logic design is completed (diagnosis, partitioning, assignment, routing, etc.). The procedure presented in this paper may be applied to take fuller advantage of the computer's capabilities.
4 citations
01 Jan 1972
TL;DR: Results indicate that constant gain systems can substantially exceed the highest required levels of handling qualities in all design flight conditions of the example considered.
Abstract: A method is described for using nonlinear programing in the computer-aided design of airplane control systems. It is assumed that the quality of such systems depends on many criteria. These criteria are included in the constraints vector (instead of attempting to combine them into a single scalar criterion, as is usually done), and the design proceeds through a sequence of nonlinear programing solutions in which the designer varies the specification of sets of requirements levels. The method is applied to design of a lateral stability augmentation system (SAS) for a fighter airplane, in which the requirements vector is chosen from the official handling-qualities specifications. Results are shown for several simple SAS configurations designed to obtain desirable handling qualities over all design flight conditions with minimum feedback gains. The choice of the final design for each case is not unique but depends on the designer's decision as to which achievable set of requirements levels represents the best for that system. Results indicate that constant gain systems can substantially exceed the highest required levels of handling qualities in all design flight conditions of the example considered. The role of the designer as a decision maker, interacting with the computer program, is discussed. Advantages of this type of designer-computer interaction are emphasized. Desirable extensions of the method are indicated.
4 citations
TL;DR: Design Automation is used here to mean the art of using computers to aid in the design of computers, since the "automation" part relates more closely to the automatic manufacturing processes to which it supplies data, than to the design process itself.
Abstract: Introduction The first generation of general purpose computers quickly demonstrated their usefulness in handling problems involving large quantities of data with great speed and accuracy Because of the complexity of these computers, their designers were soon enmeshed in these kinds of problems when dealing with the design data Out of this experience was born Design Automation, which is used here to mean the art of using computers to aid in the design of computers DA, as it is often abbreviated, might more it is often abbreviated, might more accurately stand for "design assistance", since the "automation" part relates more closely to the automatic manufacturing processes to which it supplies data, than to the design process itself
2 citations
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: In the sequence of events normally associated with the design cycle for a digital system, the two operations where simulation has the greatest impact are at opposite ends of the cycle, the Design Verification step and the Functional Test Generation step.
Abstract: In the sequence of events normally associated with the design cycle for a digital system, the two operations where simulation has the greatest impact are at opposite ends of the cycle. These are the Design Verification step and the Functional Test Generation step in Figure 1.Between Design Verification and Test Generation, the implementation, partitioning, packaging, placement, and routing operations are performed. These operations lead to a complete design, and all work from a common data base. Each step in the cycle augments the data base as the design progresses from concept to hardware.
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: The interim application of simple and comprehensible approaches to design automation may even be a necessary prerequisite to the acceptance by designers of the more sophisticated techniques that will emerge in the future.
Abstract: Computer-aided space allocation or space planning techniques have been an active research area in the development of automated design assistance techniques. Miller (1971), in his thorough survey of and bibliography for this area, suggested that while the future of geometric space planning would undoubtedly lie in the direction of highly sophisticated, interactive graphic systems for use by the designer, there is an interim need for immediately applicable techniques for use by the design professions. The interim application of simple and comprehensible approaches to design automation may even be a necessary prerequisite to the acceptance by designers of the more sophisticated techniques that will emerge in the future.
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: The research described in this paper deals with the design automation of the central processor of a digital computing system and explores the possibility of giving the user the ability of describing the desired computer architecture along with the available building blocks with which it is to be implemented.
Abstract: The research described in this paper deals with the design automation of the central processor of a digital computing system. The principal aim has been to lay the groundwork for a new and unexplored area in the field of computer design. While conventional design automation systems provide the user with a convenient method of describing his design, we explore the possibility of giving the user the ability of describing the desired computer architecture along with the available building blocks with which it is to be implemented.In this paper we will describe the facilities of the model and then discuss a solution technique we have developed. In the statement of the model we will not attempt to include any of the mathematical formalism that underlies it.
01 Aug 1972
TL;DR: An interactive system for the design of printed circuit boards that uses an interactive graphics terminal for solving the placement and routing problems and provides significant savings in both design time and processing costs over batch processing and manual methods.
Abstract: This paper describes an interactive system for the design of printed circuit boards. The system uses an interactive graphics terminal for solving the placement and routing problems. It can be used for designing two-layer boards with integrated circuit modules and discrete components. A substantial portion of the wire-routing is performed automatically and the remaining wires are routed manually in a single interactive session. The system provides significant savings in both design time and processing costs over batch processing and manual methods.
01 Jan 1972
TL;DR: The authors feel that this time-shared hybrid system, which provides two to three orders of magnitude speed advantage in access time and solution time when compared with digital terminal systems, offers a new dimension to computer-aided design of dynamic systems.
Abstract: A hybrid computer system with electronic patching at the University of Michigan Simulation Center is described. The system allows automatic digital setup of problems on the analog subsystem within 20 ms. This fast turnaround permits time sharing of the hybrid computer using remote terminals. In addition to generating high-speed solutions to non-linear differential equations, the hybrid system also generates alphanumeric and graphic displays for use at each terminal. A high-level compiler using simulation-language statements to program automatically the analog subsystem is decribed, along with an example problem. The authors feel that this time-shared hybrid system, which provides two to three orders of magnitude speed advantage in access time and solution time when compared with digital terminal systems, offers a new dimension to computer-aided design of dynamic systems.
26 Jun 1972
TL;DR: By detecting when segments are ready to be executed and by queueing this available work uniformly among all computers in the network, the design automation system will give each designer access to the full parallel processing power of the network.
Abstract: Network computers are becoming a reality in the seventies. While systems such as the ARPA Network, Carnegie Mellon's PLN, the Collins C-System, CDC's Cybernet, and GE's Time Share Net are coming to fruition, even more grandiose systems are being discussed. These networks all offer the designer the potential of combining the advantages of resource sharing, data base sharing, and message switching with those of design automation. In this paper we present a brief description of a network computer currently under development and then propose an interactive design automation system for this geographically distributed network.The control mechanism for our design automation system is provided by an operating system, resident in each computer, whose primary function is to segment, disseminate, and regulate the jobs generated by the design automation system. When a job enters the system it may be assigned to anyone of the computers in a center. The job then runs to completion under control of that computer, but the segments that make up the job may be executed in any available computer. Additionally, we may transmit jobs between centers to improve the network response time. Thus we see that by detecting when segments are ready to be executed and by queueing this available work uniformly among all computers in the network, our design automation system will give each designer access to the full parallel processing power of the network.