Showing papers on "Iterative design published in 1979"

The Mimola Design System a Computer Aided Digital Processor Design Method

Abstract: A top-down design method is presented. The design starts with an algorithmic description of the problems and attempts to find an optimal hardware structure for the solution of the problems. Comparisons with methods using hardware and functional descriptions are included. The application of the macro processor is explained.

A radial exploration approach to manufacturing yield estimation and design centering

Abstract: An integrated approach to manufacturing yield estimation and design centering is presented in which linear searches along "radial" directions within the multiparameter component space are used to locate points on the boundary of the feasible region for a given nominal design and a set of component tolerances. This set of boundary points enables the volume of the feasible region, and hence the manufacturing yield, to be estimated by using a newly developed computational technique. For linear frequency-domain circuit behavior, application of the tracking-sensitivity algorithm further enhances the searching efficiency. The boundary points are also used within a practical design centering algorithm which minimizes the asymmetry of the feasible region around the nominal design. Iterative application of this process leads to a better centered design. Examples of the application of this algorithm to circuit design are given. The results indicate that the radial exploration approach to yield estimation and design centering is effective in practice, computationally cheap, and applicable to many situations in practical circuit design.

Global Non-Iterative Design Optimization Using Monotonicity Analysis

Abstract: The numerical techniques used in conventional optimization may not work for engineering design problems, which often present peculiar difficulties. Monotonicity analysis can identify a global optimum without any special computations and also prevent acceptance of false solutions generated by the numerical techniques. In the present paper, these advantages are demonstrated in a problem taken from the literature, for which diverse numerical solutions have been obtained. Monotonicity analysis identifies and proves the global optimum. Its application may require some algebraic rearrangement of the problem statement.

Designers Workbench -- Efficient and Economical Design Aids

Abstract: Designers Workbench is an interactive approach to design aids integration that overcomes most of the impediments that normally restrict the use of these aids. This paper first explores the problems encountered by users in trying to interface their design process with existing design aids and the problems of the design aids development organizations in meeting their users' needs. The design processes discussed include the electrical design, test development, and physical design for both computer architecture circuit pack design and custom electronics design, from the silicon level through the circuit pack level. Designers Workbench provides extensive on-line tutorials that greatly simplify the training of new users and buffers the user from the idiosyncracies of the computers on which the programs run. All job control, file management and data translations are provided automatically by the system. The design aids programs were left unchanged on their original computers and are accessed via a computer network. This reduced the initial development cost as well as providing a method for easy integration of any new programs that become available. Initial usage of DWB has indicated that this approach greatly increases the user acceptance of the design aids.

Computer-aided design for integrated circuits: trying to bridge the gap

Abstract: CAD performance in the field of simulation, testing, and layout is compared to the increase of digital integrated systems complexity. This complexity already exceeds the fundamental limits of existing software, especially in the testing area. On the other hand, fully manual layout of VLSI leads to unreasonably long design times and extremely high risks. This will favor design automation methods in layout. Testability and layout will most likely impose some sacrifice of VLSI overcapacity to a more structured system architecture. This architecture will lead to testable dedicated VLSI system design through the use of automated design software to keep development costs low.

A design process formalization

Abstract: Software design process is formalized based on the concept of the recursive graphs. The proposed formalization defines design schemas by the recursive graphs and design operations by the recursive graph operations. An architecture of a computer aided design process based on this formalization is presented. An example is shown for a buffer system design. It is expected that this formalization reduces software life cycle cost by utilization and machine verification of past design results as well as past design processes.