Abstract:
Burst-mode (BM) formalism is a variant of an asynchronous finite-state machine (FSM) that operates in “BM” timing assumption and offers simple entry into the asynchronous...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Burst-mode (BM) formalism is a variant of an asynchronous finite-state machine (FSM) that operates in “BM” timing assumption and offers simple entry into the asynchronous circuit design. However, some of BM’s well-formedness properties, while useful for implementing BM specifications as circuits, are rather restrictive in some important contexts, e.g., BM’s maximal set property (or its analog, extended BM (XBM) formalism’s distinguishability constraint) forbids nondeterministic specifications that are inherent in some design approaches, input and output bursts must alternate meaning BMs are not a proper extension of FSMs with arcs labeled by single events, and BMs cannot express input-output concurrency whereas FSMs can with interleaving. The latter limitation is particularly problematic when interoperability between several formalisms is desirable. In this article, we propose the burst automation (BA) model that is more powerful and yet simpler than BM, by relaxing BM’s well-formedness properties. BA is a proper extension of FSMs, and can express input-output concurrency and nondeterminism. We define BA’s interleaving semantics via its asynchronous reachability graph that is an FSM, and develop three translations from BAs to signal transition graphs (STGs) that preserve strong bisimulation, weak bisimulation, or the language. Former two translations may be exponential, whereas the latter translation is linear. The resulting STG can then be used for verification and synthesis into speed-independent (SI) or quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) circuits, or for composition with other STGs. The proposed workflow was implemented in Workcraft, and experimental results show an improved synthesis rate and a significant reduction in the literal count.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems ( Volume: 42, Issue: 5, May 2023)
Funding Agency:
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K
Alex Chan received the B.Sc. degree in computer science from Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K., in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the Microsystems Research Group.
His research focuses on the synthesis of speed-independent circuits using distributed finite-state machines. His work includes the development of a Workcraft plugin that supports the design automation of burst-mode machin...Show More
Alex Chan received the B.Sc. degree in computer science from Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K., in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the Microsystems Research Group.
His research focuses on the synthesis of speed-independent circuits using distributed finite-state machines. His work includes the development of a Workcraft plugin that supports the design automation of burst-mode machin...View more
Dialog Semiconductor, Swindon, U.K
Danil Sokolov (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2006.
He is a Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, a Renesas Company, Reading, U.K., and a Visiting Research Fellow with the School of Engineering, Newcastle University. He is the Lead Architect and Developer of Workcraft—a toolset for capture, simulation, synthesis, and verification ...Show More
Danil Sokolov (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2006.
He is a Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, a Renesas Company, Reading, U.K., and a Visiting Research Fellow with the School of Engineering, Newcastle University. He is the Lead Architect and Developer of Workcraft—a toolset for capture, simulation, synthesis, and verification ...View more
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K
Victor Khomenko received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2003.
He is a Reader in Formal Methods and the Head of Advanced Model-Based Engineering and Reasoning (AMBER) Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University. He was a Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2005 to 2010. He is the Developer of PUNF, Mpsat, and PCOMP software tools used ...Show More
Victor Khomenko received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2003.
He is a Reader in Formal Methods and the Head of Advanced Model-Based Engineering and Reasoning (AMBER) Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University. He was a Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2005 to 2010. He is the Developer of PUNF, Mpsat, and PCOMP software tools used ...View more
Dialog Semiconductor, Swindon, U.K
David Lloyd received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K., in 1995.
He was a Senior Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, Reading, U.K., where he worked for the IP Team designing high-speed/low-power control for analogue and mixed-signal systems. He was the AMULET Research Fellow with the Advanced Processor Technologies Research Group, University of Manchester, Mancheste...Show More
David Lloyd received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K., in 1995.
He was a Senior Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, Reading, U.K., where he worked for the IP Team designing high-speed/low-power control for analogue and mixed-signal systems. He was the AMULET Research Fellow with the Advanced Processor Technologies Research Group, University of Manchester, Mancheste...View more
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K
Alex Yakovlev (Fellow, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from St. Petersburg Electrical Engineering Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1982.
He is a Professor of Computer Systems Design, who founded and leads the Microsystems Research Group, and co-founded the Asynchronous Systems Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. He has published eight edited and coauthored monographs and more than 300 papers in...Show More
Alex Yakovlev (Fellow, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from St. Petersburg Electrical Engineering Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1982.
He is a Professor of Computer Systems Design, who founded and leads the Microsystems Research Group, and co-founded the Asynchronous Systems Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. He has published eight edited and coauthored monographs and more than 300 papers in...View more
Contents School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K
Alex Chan received the B.Sc. degree in computer science from Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K., in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the Microsystems Research Group.
His research focuses on the synthesis of speed-independent circuits using distributed finite-state machines. His work includes the development of a Workcraft plugin that supports the design automation of burst-mode machines and the translation of burst-mode machines to signal transition graphs. His research interests include formal modeling, computer-aided design tools, and design of distributed systems.
Alex Chan received the B.Sc. degree in computer science from Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K., in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the Microsystems Research Group.
His research focuses on the synthesis of speed-independent circuits using distributed finite-state machines. His work includes the development of a Workcraft plugin that supports the design automation of burst-mode machines and the translation of burst-mode machines to signal transition graphs. His research interests include formal modeling, computer-aided design tools, and design of distributed systems.View more
Dialog Semiconductor, Swindon, U.K
Danil Sokolov (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2006.
He is a Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, a Renesas Company, Reading, U.K., and a Visiting Research Fellow with the School of Engineering, Newcastle University. He is the Lead Architect and Developer of Workcraft—a toolset for capture, simulation, synthesis, and verification of interpreted graph models. He has authored three patents, 20 journal articles and over 50 pair-reviewed conference papers. His research expertise is in modeling of self-timed heterogeneous systems, synthesis methods for energy-efficient circuits, development of CAD tools, and their integration into industry-level design flows.
Danil Sokolov (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2006.
He is a Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, a Renesas Company, Reading, U.K., and a Visiting Research Fellow with the School of Engineering, Newcastle University. He is the Lead Architect and Developer of Workcraft—a toolset for capture, simulation, synthesis, and verification of interpreted graph models. He has authored three patents, 20 journal articles and over 50 pair-reviewed conference papers. His research expertise is in modeling of self-timed heterogeneous systems, synthesis methods for energy-efficient circuits, development of CAD tools, and their integration into industry-level design flows.View more
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K
Victor Khomenko received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2003.
He is a Reader in Formal Methods and the Head of Advanced Model-Based Engineering and Reasoning (AMBER) Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University. He was a Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2005 to 2010. He is the Developer of PUNF, Mpsat, and PCOMP software tools used by Workcraft as verification and synthesis backends. He has over 100 publications. His research is focused on the theory of concurrent systems, and, in particular, on the application of formal methods based on Petri net unfoldings to the formal verification and synthesis of asynchronous circuits.
Dr. Khomenko received several best paper awards and nominations at prestigious international conferences, and he chaired programme committees of several international conferences.
Victor Khomenko received the Ph.D. degree from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., in 2003.
He is a Reader in Formal Methods and the Head of Advanced Model-Based Engineering and Reasoning (AMBER) Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University. He was a Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2005 to 2010. He is the Developer of PUNF, Mpsat, and PCOMP software tools used by Workcraft as verification and synthesis backends. He has over 100 publications. His research is focused on the theory of concurrent systems, and, in particular, on the application of formal methods based on Petri net unfoldings to the formal verification and synthesis of asynchronous circuits.
Dr. Khomenko received several best paper awards and nominations at prestigious international conferences, and he chaired programme committees of several international conferences.View more
Dialog Semiconductor, Swindon, U.K
David Lloyd received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K., in 1995.
He was a Senior Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, Reading, U.K., where he worked for the IP Team designing high-speed/low-power control for analogue and mixed-signal systems. He was the AMULET Research Fellow with the Advanced Processor Technologies Research Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K., from 1997 to 2000. He retired in January 2022. He has numerous publications and several patents. His main research interests were techniques and tools to achieve fast-response, energy-efficient control.
David Lloyd received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K., in 1995.
He was a Senior Member of Technical Staff (R&D) with Dialog Semiconductor, Reading, U.K., where he worked for the IP Team designing high-speed/low-power control for analogue and mixed-signal systems. He was the AMULET Research Fellow with the Advanced Processor Technologies Research Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K., from 1997 to 2000. He retired in January 2022. He has numerous publications and several patents. His main research interests were techniques and tools to achieve fast-response, energy-efficient control.View more
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K
Alex Yakovlev (Fellow, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from St. Petersburg Electrical Engineering Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1982.
He is a Professor of Computer Systems Design, who founded and leads the Microsystems Research Group, and co-founded the Asynchronous Systems Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. He has published eight edited and coauthored monographs and more than 300 papers in IEEE/ACM journals and conferences, in the area of concurrent and asynchronous systems.
Prof. Yakovlev received several best paper awards and nominations. He was awarded an EPSRC Dream Fellowship from 2011 to 2013. He has chaired organizational committees of major international conferences. He has been a Principal Investigator of more than 30 research grants and supervised over 50 Ph.D. students. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and Royal Academy of Engineering in the U.K.
Alex Yakovlev (Fellow, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from St. Petersburg Electrical Engineering Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1982.
He is a Professor of Computer Systems Design, who founded and leads the Microsystems Research Group, and co-founded the Asynchronous Systems Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. He has published eight edited and coauthored monographs and more than 300 papers in IEEE/ACM journals and conferences, in the area of concurrent and asynchronous systems.
Prof. Yakovlev received several best paper awards and nominations. He was awarded an EPSRC Dream Fellowship from 2011 to 2013. He has chaired organizational committees of major international conferences. He has been a Principal Investigator of more than 30 research grants and supervised over 50 Ph.D. students. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and Royal Academy of Engineering in the U.K.View more
