A general optimization algorithm known as simulated evolution (SE) is applied to the tasks of scheduling and allocation in high level synthesis. Basically, SE-based synthesis explores the design space by repeatedly ripping up parts of a design in a probabilistic manner and reconstructing them using application-specific heuristics that combine rapid design iterations and probabilistic hill climbing to achieve effective design space exploration. Benchmark results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. The results of a number of experiments that provide insight into why SE-based synthesis works so well are given.>

In this paper, we present a new bottom up synthesis formulation designed for full allocation of data path o~rations and data values prior to scheduling.This work is novel because it treats unscheduled operations as having uncertain schedules, then applies fuzzy set theQry to quantify these uncertainties during allocation.This formulation has been implemented in a simulated evolution based synthesis system, and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the strength of this approach.

A generalized interconnect model for data path synthesis is presented. This is a multi-level interconnect model designed for synthesis under interconnect constraints. Two novel algorithms for dynamic interconnect allocation and interconnect synthesis are also described. These algorithms help implement the generalized interconnect model in the Elf hardware compiler.

STEM (SmallTalk Environment of Module design) is an IC design environment written in Smalltalk aimed at integrating design automation tools with manual design. STEM is based on the Smalltalk model-view-controller concept. Each cell in the database is represented by a single Smalltalk class. This serves as the “model” and encapsulates all (permanent) information about the cell. Different design representations of the single model are achieved by calculating views which are strictly temporary. All views of an object are linked to the model. This allows views to be updated whenever a change in the model's state is detected, and prevents permanent aliases of data. Design changes are entered using a Smalltalk controller attached to the model.