Computer aids for the design of large scale integrated circuits.

The work described in this thesis is concerned with the development of CADIC (Computer Aided Design of Integrated Circuits), a suite of computer programs which allows the user to design integrated circuit layouts at the geometric level. Initially, a review of existing computer aids to integrated circuit design is carried out. Advantages and disadvantages of each computer aid is discused, and the approach taken by CADIC justified in the light of the review. The hardware associated with a design aid can greatly influence its performance and useability. For this reason, a critical review of available graphic terminals is also undertaken. The requirements, logistics, and operation of CADIC is then discussed in detail. CADIC provides a consise range of features to aid in the design and testing of integrated circuit layouts. The most important features are however CADIC's high efficiency in processing layout data, and the implementation of complete on-line design rule checking. Utilization of these features allows CADIC to substantially reduce the lengthy design turnaround time normally associated with manual design aids. Finally, the performance of CADIC is presented. Analysis of the results show that CADIC is very efficient at data processing, especially when small sections of the layout are considered. CADIC can also perform complete on-line design rule checking well within the time it takes the designer to start adding the next shape

An overview of decision table literature 1982-1995.

This report gives an overview of the literature on decision tables over the past 15 years. As much as possible, for each reference, an author supplied abstract, a number of keywords and a classification are provided. In some cases own comments are added. The purpose of these comments is to show where, how and why decision tables are used. The literature is classified according to application area, theoretical versus practical character, year of publication, country or origin (not necessarily country of publication) and the language of the document. After a description of the scope of the interview, classification results and the classification by topic are presented. The main body of the paper is the ordered list of publications with abstract, classification and comments.

Design Methodology of Very Large Scale Integration

Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) deals with systems complexity rather than transistor size or circuit performance. VLSI design methodology is supported by Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Design Automation (DA) tools, which help VLSI designers to implement more complex and guaranteed designs. The increasing growth in VLSI complexity dictates a hierarchical design approach and the need for hardware DA tools. This paper discusses the generalized Design Procedure for CAD circuit design; the commercial CADs offered by CALMA and the Caesar System, supported by the Berkeley design tools. A complete design of a Content Addressable Memory (CAM) cell, using the Caesar system, supported by Berkeley CAD tools, is illustrated

Applications of dynamic programming tp problems of routing pipework and cables

Imperial Users onl

A Specification For A Next Generation Cad Toolkit For Electronics Product Design

Electronic engineering product design is a complex process which has enjoyed an increasing provision of computer based tools since the early 1980's. Over this period computer aided design tool development has progressed at such a pace that new features and functions have tended to be market driven. As such CAD tools have not been developed through the recommended practise of defining a functional specification prior to any software code generation. This thesis defines a new functional specification for next generation CAD tools to support the electronics product design process. It is synthesized from a review of the use of computers in the electronics product design process, from a case study of Best Practices prevalent in a wide range of electronics companies and from a new model of the design process. The model and the best practices have given rise to a new concept for company engineering documentation, the Product Book which provides a logical framework for constraining CAD tools and their users (designers) as means of controlling costs in the design process. This specification differs from current perceptions of computer functionality in the CAD tool industry by addressing human needs together with company needs of computer supported design, rather than just providing more technological support for the designer in isolation.Racal Reda