Algorithms for VLSI Design Automation

Modern microprocessors such as Intel's Pentium chip typically contain many millions of transistors. They are known generically as Very Large-Scale Integrated (VLSI) systems, and their sheer scale and complexity has necessitated the development of CAD tools to automate their design. This book focuses on the algorithms which are the building blocks of the design automation software which generates the layout of VLSI circuits. Courses on this area are typically elective courses taken at senior undergrad or graduate level by students of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and sometimes in Computer Science, or Computer Engineering.

Die zunehmende Komplexität der VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integrated)-Systeme wie alle modernen Mikroprozessoren führte zu einer wachsenden Nachfrage nach einer Automatisierung von deren Design. Jetzt liegt erstmals ein Buch vor, das alle Stadien des automatisierten Prozesses erläutert, von der Layout-Synthese über die logische Synthese bis zur High-level-Synthese. Klar und präzise geschrieben, mit vielen Beispielen und über 200 informativen Abbildungen. (01/99) PRELIMINARIES.

Introduction to Design Methodologies.

A Quick Tour of VLSI Design Automation Tools.

Algorithmic Graph Theory and Computational Complexity.

Tractable and Intractable Problems.

General-purpose Methods for Combinatorial Optimization.

SELECTED DESIGN PROBLEMS AND ALGORITHMS.

Layout Compaction.

Placement and Partitioning.

Floorplanning.

Routing.

Simulation.

Logic Synthesis and Verification.

High-level Synthesis.

Appendices.

References.

Index. The author, Sabih Gerez, has based the book on a course given to his students at the University of Twente, Enschede, in the Netherlands. As an assistant professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, he teaches courses on circuit theory and VLSI design. His research focuses on VLSI design automation, especially high-level synthesis. Dr Gerez holds an M.Sc. degree (with honors) in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Applied Sciences, both from the University of Twente. Very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits nowadays contain many millions of components, and cannot be designed without the aid of design automation tools. This book provides an insight into the algorithms used inside these computer-aided design (CAD) tools, and will be a good starting point for designers who want to specialize in building CAD tools themselves. Highlights of the book include:
* Special attention to background knowledge from mathematics and computer science: graph theory, complexity of algorithms, and general-purpose methods for combinatorial optimization
* About 50 algorithms (from graph theory, layout design, simulation, logic synthesis and high-level synthesis) presented in depth by means of pseudo-code and step-by-step examples
It will be an ideal text for students in Computer Science or Electronic Engineering taking VLSI design automation courses, and for chip designers or programmers in industry developing CAD tools.