HAL: A Multi-Paradigm Approach to Automatic Data Path Synthesis

A novel approach to automatic data path synthesis is presented. This approach features innovations in the synthesis process as well as in the system implementation. The synthesis process exhibits three new features. The first relates to a subtask that performs an expert analysis of the input data flow graph and attempts to evenly distribute operations requiring similar resources. This is done using a novel "load balancing" technique. The second consists of a global preselection of operator cells to fulfill an explicit speed constraint. Finally, the third deals with new techniques for register and multiplexer optimization. These features support extended design space search by taking an explicit performance specification into account. The system implementation is based on the LOOPS multiparadigm programming system. In this approach the overall task can be partitioned into complementary subtasks requiring different programming paradigms. These subtasks will be realized using an object-based paradigm, a knowledge-based expert system paradigm, a functional paradigm, or combinations of all three. Two complete examples are given to demonstrate the functionality of the system and to allow comparison with existing systems.