Module generation for AND/XOR-fields (XPLAs)

Combinational functions involving XOR-operations, e.g. Reed-Muller forms (RMFs) or parity functions, often yield area-inefficient realizations when standard synthesis algorithms are used. A specialized module generator targeted towards such functions was implemented. XPLAs, the resulting novel PLA-like structures for mixed polarity RMFs, are compared with conventional PLAs in order to assess whether the theoretical advantages of RMFs over sum-of-products representations can be transformed into practical benefits. It is shown that although testability is a definite plus of these structures, area considerations will probably restrict the use of RMF minimizers to special applications