Testability Properties of Divergent Trees

The testability of a class of regular circuits calleddivergent trees is investigated under a functional fault model. Divergent trees include such practical circuits as decoders anddemultiplexers. We prove that uncontrolled divergent trees aretestable with a fixed number of test patterns (C-testable) if andonly if the module function is surjective. Testable controlled treesare also surjective but require sensitizing vectors for errorpropagation. We derive the conditions for testing controlleddivergent trees with a test set whose size is proportional to thenumber of levels p found in the tree (L-testability). By viewing a tree as overlapping arrays of various types, we also deriveconditions for a controlled divergent tree to be C-testable. Typicaldecoders/demultiplexers are shown to only partially satisfy L- andC-testability conditions but a design modification that ensuresL-testability is demonstrated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43009/1/10836_2004_Article_146935.pd

Efficient algorithms for reconfiguration in VLSI/WSI arrays

The issue of developing efficient algorithms for reconfiguring processor arrays in the presence of faulty processors and fixed hardware resources is discussed. The models discussed consist of a set of identical processors embedded in a flexible interconnection structure that is configured in the form of a rectangular grid. An array grid model based on single-track switches is considered. An efficient polynomial time algorithm is proposed for determining feasible reconfigurations for an array with a given distribution of faulty processors. In the process, it is shown that the set of conditions in the reconfigurability theorem is not necessary. A polynomial time algorithm is developed for finding feasible reconfigurations in an augmented single-track model and in array grid models with multiple-track switche

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata: Review Paper

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is one of the most important discoveries that will be the successful alternative for CMOS technology in the near future. An important feature of this technique, which has attracted the attention of many researchers, is that it is characterized by its low energy consumption, high speed and small size compared with CMOS.  Inverter and majority gate are the basic building blocks for QCA circuits where it can design the most logical circuit using these gates with help of QCA wire. Due to the lack of availability of review papers, this paper will be a destination for many people who are interested in the QCA field and to know how it works and why it had taken lots of attention recentl

Investigation into the wafer-scale integration of fine-grain parallel processing computer systems

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis investigates the potential of wafer-scale integration (WSI) for the implementation of low-cost fine-grain parallel processing computer systems. As WSI is a relatively new subject, there was little work on which to base investigations. Indeed, most WSI architectures existed only as untried and sometimes vague proposals. Accordingly, the research strategy approached this problem by identifying a representative WSI structure and architecture on which to base investigations. An analysis of architectural proposals identified associative memory to be general purpose parallel processing component used in a wide range of WSI architectures. Furthermore, this analysis provided a set of WSI-level design requirements to evaluate the sustainability of different architectures as research vehicles. The WSI-ASP (WASP) device, which has a large associative memory as its main component is shown to meet these requirements and hence was chosen as the research vehicle. Consequently, this thesis addresses WSI potential through an in-depth investigation into the feasibility of implementing a large associative memory for the WASP device that meets the demanding technological constraints of WSI. Overall, the thesis concludes that WSI offers significant potential for the implementation of low-cost fine-grain parallel processing computer systems. However, due to the dual constraints of thermal management and the area required for the power distribution network, power density is a major design constraint in WSI. Indeed, it is shown that WSI power densities need to be an order of magnitude lower than VLSI power densities. The thesis demonstrates that for associative memories at least, VLSI designs are unsuited to implementation in WSI. Rather, it is shown that WSI circuits must be closely matched to the operational environment to assure suitable power densities. These circuits are significantly larger than their VLSI equivalents. Nonetheless, the thesis demonstrates that by concentrating on the most power intensive circuits, it is possible to achieve acceptable power densities with only a modest increase in area overheads.SER

Systolic Array Implementations With Reduced Compute Time.

The goal of the research is the establishment of a formal methodology to develop computational structures more suitable for the changing nature of real-time signal processing and control applications. A major effort is devoted to the following question: Given a systolic array designed to execute a particular algorithm, what other algorithms can be executed on the same array? One approach for answering this question is based on a general model of array operations using graph-theoretic techniques. As a result, a systematic procedure is introduced that models array operations as a function of the compute cycle. As a consequence of the analysis, the dissertation develops the concept of fast algorithm realizations. This concept characterizes specific realizations that can be evaluated in a reduced number of cycles. It restricts the operations to remain in the same class but with reduced execution time. The concept takes advantage of the data dependencies of the algorithm at hand. This feature allows the modification of existing structures by reordering the input data. Applications of the principle allows optimum time band and triangular matrix product on arrays designed for dense matrices. A second approach for analyzing the families of algorithms implementable in an array, is based on the concept of array time constrained operation. The principle uses the number of compute cycle as an additional degree of freedom to expand the class of transformations generated by a single array. A mathematical approach, based on concepts from multilinear algebra, is introduced to model the recursive transformations implemented in linear arrays at each compute cycle. The proposed representation is general enough to encompass a large class of signal processing and control applications. A complete analytical model of the linear maps implementable by the array at each compute cycle is developed. The proposed methodology results in arrays that are more adaptable to the changing nature of operations. Lessons learned from analyzing existing arrays are used to design smart arrays for special algorithm realizations. Applications of the methodology include the design of flexible time structures and the ability to decompose a full size array into subarrays implementing smaller size problems

Model Driven Engineering Benefits for High Level Synthesis

This report presents the benefits of using the Model Driven Engineering (MDE) methodology to solve major difficulties encountered by usual high level synthesis (HLS) flows. These advantages are highlighted in a design space exploration environment we propose. MDE is the skeleton of our HLS flow dedicated to intensive signal processing to demonstrate the expected benefits of these software technologies extended to hardware design. Both users and designers of the design flow benefit from the MDE methodology, participating to a concrete and effective advancement in the high level synthesis research domain. The flow is automatized from UML specifications to VHDL code generation and has been successfully evaluated for the conception of a video processing application

New Symmetric and Planar Designs of Reversible Full-Adders/Subtractors in Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is one of the emerging nanotechnologies, promising alternative to CMOS technology due to faster speed, smaller size, lower power consumption, higher scale integration and higher switching frequency. Also, power dissipation is the main limitation of all the nano electronics design techniques including the QCA. Researchers have proposed the various mechanisms to limit this problem. Among them, reversible computing is considered as the reliable solution to lower the power dissipation. On the other hand, adders are fundamental circuits for most digital systems. In this paper, Innovation is divided to three sections. In the first section, a method for converting irreversible functions to a reversible one is presented. This method has advantages such as: converting of irreversible functions to reversible one directly and as optimal. So, in this method, sub-optimal methods of using of conventional reversible blocks such as Toffoli and Fredkin are not used, having of minimum number of garbage outputs and so on. Then, Using the method, two new symmetric and planar designs of reversible full-adders are presented. In the second section, a new symmetric, planar and fault tolerant five-input majority gate is proposed. Based on the designed gate, a reversible full-adder are presented. Also, for this gate, a fault-tolerant analysis is proposed. And in the third section, three new 8-bit reversible full-adder/subtractors are designed based on full-adders/subtractors proposed in the second section. The results are indicative of the outperformance of the proposed designs in comparison to the best available ones in terms of area, complexity, delay, reversible/irreversible layout, and also in logic level in terms of garbage outputs, control inputs, number of majority and NOT gates

New Symmetric and Planar Designs of Reversible Full-Adders/Subtractors in Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is one of the emerging nanotechnologies, promising alternative to CMOS technology due to faster speed, smaller size, lower power consumption, higher scale integration and higher switching frequency. Also, power dissipation is the main limitation of all the nano electronics design techniques including the QCA. Researchers have proposed the various mechanisms to limit this problem. Among them, reversible computing is considered as the reliable solution to lower the power dissipation. On the other hand, adders are fundamental circuits for most digital systems. In this paper, Innovation is divided to three sections. In the first section, a method for converting irreversible functions to a reversible one is presented. This method has advantages such as: converting of irreversible functions to reversible one directly and as optimal. So, in this method, sub-optimal methods of using of conventional reversible blocks such as Toffoli and Fredkin are not used, having of minimum number of garbage outputs and so on. Then, Using the method, two new symmetric and planar designs of reversible full-adders are presented. In the second section, a new symmetric, planar and fault tolerant five-input majority gate is proposed. Based on the designed gate, a reversible full-adder are presented. Also, for this gate, a fault-tolerant analysis is proposed. And in the third section, three new 8-bit reversible full-adder/subtractors are designed based on full-adders/subtractors proposed in the second section. The results are indicative of the outperformance of the proposed designs in comparison to the best available ones in terms of area, complexity, delay, reversible/irreversible layout, and also in logic level in terms of garbage outputs, control inputs, number of majority and NOT gates