An exploration-based binding and scheduling technique for synthesis of digital blocks for mixed-signal applications

The design of mixed analog-digital systems requires new CAD tools, as specific performance requirements need to be tackled i.e. simultaneous switching noise (SSN). This paper proposes a novel technique for resource binding and operation scheduling. The goal is to maximize the latency of the digital hardware such that its SSN is kept within feasible limits. The technique includes two steps: (1) for each input specifications, Performance Models (PM) are automatically generated for the overall throughput and SSN values, and (2) PMs are employed by an exploration algorithm to find the best resource binding and operation scheduling alternative. Experiments showed the ability of the proposed technique to find good solutions as compared to traditional high-level synthesis methods.