A survey and taxonomy of layout compaction algorithms

This paper presents a survey and a taxonomy of layout compaction algorithms, which are an essential part of modern symbolic layout tools employed in VLSI circuit design. Layout compaction techniques are also used in the low-end stages of silicon compilation tools and module generators. The paper addresses the main algorithms used in compaction, focusing on their implementation characteristics, performance, advantages and drawbacks. Compaction is a highly important operation to optimize the use of silicon area, achieve higher speed through wire length minimization, support technology retargeting and also allow the use of legacy layouts. Optimized cells that were developed for a fabrication process with a set of design rules have to be retargeted for a new and more compact process with a different set of design rules

Proceedings of the Second Caltech Conference on Very Large Scale Integration, held at the California Institute of Technology 19-21 January, 1981 ; Organized by the Caltech Computer Science Department and the Caltech Industrial Associates Office, and sponsored by Caltech Industrial Associates and the National Science Foundation

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MOVAL: a framework for turning digital signal processing algorithms into custom chips

A framework supported by a set of tools for turning digital signal processing algorithms into custom chips is proposed. The framework, called MOVAL, integrates analysis, layout synthesis and validation and is based on a structured top-down design methodology covering seven succinct abstraction levels: the behavioral, data representation, space/time, hardware, symbolic and geometric (mask) descriptions, and the chip. The top four levels efficiently cope with the implementation trade-offs and are all written in the same high level language, currently “C”. As a result, the design can be modeled using a mixture of components defined at different abstraction levels. This allows an efficient mixed-mode multi-level validation. The hardware description is unambiguous and is the key to (semi-) automatic synthesis of the layout. Furthermore, it generates test vectors for the symbolic layout, the mask and, finally, the chip. The validation is done automatically, based on back substitution. As an example of the proposed design methodology, the crucial steps of the implementation of a fast Fourier cosine transform algorithm are described

Generating Programming Environments with Integrated Text and Graphics for VLSI Design Systems

The constant improvements in device integration, the development of new technologies and the emergence of new design techniques call for flexible, maintainable and robust software tools. The generic nature of compiler-compiler systems, with their semi-formal specifications, can help in the construction of those tools. This thesis describes the Wright editor generator which is used in the synthesis of language-based graphical editors (LBGEs). An LBGE is a programming environment where the programs being manipulated denote pictures. Editing actions can be specified through both textual and graphical interfaces. Editors generated by the Wright system are specified using the formalism of attribute grammars. The major example editor in this thesis, Stick-Wright, is a design entry system for the construction of VLSI circuits. Stick-Wright is a hierarchical symbolic layout editor which exploits a combination of text and graphics in an interactive environment to provide the circuit designer with a tool for experimenting with circuit topologies. A simpler system, Pict-Wright: a picture drawing system, is also used to illustrate the attribute grammar specification process. This thesis aims to demonstrate the efficacy of formal specification in the generation of software-tools. The generated system Stick-Wright shows that a text/graphic programming environment can form the basis of a powerful VLSI design tool, especially with regard to providing the designer with immediate graphical feedback. Further applications of the LBGE generator approach to system design are given for a range of VLSI design activities

Subjective reality – Media mix and reorganization in graphic design

Graphic design meets a design requirement or serves a design mandate in many scenarios. What role can graphic design play when we focus on social issues? With the evolution of society, numerous social problems tend to be increasingly complicated, involving intercultural communication or sensitive political stances. The design could not solve these social problems directly. But if we consider design as a manner of communication, it conveys controversial social matters to the public more effectively with critical or speculative thinking. The real social situation could be revealed from the disruptive information, that is, design to “raise” the question. This thesis consists of the following three sections. The first section is the comprehension of Subjective Reality. People perceive the shallow reality as a dualism: “true” or “false.” The reality investigated in this study goes further on this basis. In terms of the demonstration of “subjective” and “reality” in different disciplines, subjective cognition constructed people’s perception of the world, which leads to the “reality” with multiple dimensions. The second part is a further analysis of the causation of Subjective Reality. Through investigation, it is found that several divergent realities existed in the same news events on account of different positions of the media. Besides, if we trace back the history of aesthetics, we could recognize that the tendency altered radically from “perfect illusion” to “imperfect reality.” We could also assume that the reality of aesthetic hinges on the different epoch in this regard. Therefore, “Subjective Reality” can be ascribed to diverse stances and different eras. The third part is the design. In terms of the causation of Subjective Reality, materials related to stances and eras were collected from topical news and contemporary lifestyle. To facilitate the comprehension for spectators, the thesis project is assumed as a fictional independent publisher Reality Daily. The project intends to amplify the contradictions of diverse opinions by mixing and reorganizing of multi-media (print media and digital media), such as experimenting with different narrative structures to convey the sense of drama in the incident. The design results are in the form of brand design for Reality Daily, editorial design for magazines and newspapers, and web prototypes. As a consequence, the project could arouse deep ponderation and confronting concealed social problems by manifesting multiple layers of reality

How Comics Travel

Engages with comics as sites of struggle over representation by developing a new methodology of reading for difference in transnational contexts