Patent US5910898A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5910898A
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Circuit design methods and tools
Assignee: Viewlogic Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-14
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Granted: 1999-06-08
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Expires: 2015-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A circuit design tool which includes (1) separating structural and functional aspects of components, so as to specify the desired functional behaviour of the component, leaving the actual gate-level design of the component to the design tool; (2) translating a model of the desired logical behaviour of a circuit into a regularized set of functional components to achieve that desired behaviour; (3) verifying structural equivalence between pairs of components; (4) a method for bit-reversing the signal flow in a component; (5) a method for performing arithmetic operations backwards from a natural order; (6) an architecture for a multiplier which is faster and more compact than known multipliers; and (7) a method of translating a logic equation into a netlist of connected logic gates.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Johannsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F7/00; G06F7/38; G06F7/48; G06F7/52; G06F7/523; G06F7/53; G06F7/5318; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F2207/00; G06F2207/38; G06F2207/3804; G06F2207/3808; G06F2207/3852
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for bit-reversing signal flow in the operation of a circuit design tool, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first description of a component structure having a set of bitslices, each one of said set of bitslices having a logic block, and each one of said set of bitslices operating on an input bit, producing an output bit, having a carry signal input and a carry signal output, wherein a carry signal output corresponding to a selected one of said set of bitslices is coupled to a carry signal input of a next one of said set of bitslices, said carry signal output being responsive to said carry signal input, said carry signals having a directional signal flow; replacing each one of said set of bitslices with a first carry-logic block and a second logic block representing behavioral characteristics of said one of said set of bitslices; replacing carry-logic blocks coupled in series with a merge-carry block; constructing a logical truth table in response to said replacing steps; combining said second logic block with said merge-carry block using said logical truth table; and constructing a functional description for each said second logic block.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for bit-reversing signal flow in the operation of a circuit design tool, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first description of a component structure having a set of bitslices, each one of said set of bitslices having a logic block, and each one of said set of bitslices operating on an input bit, producing an output bit, having a carry signal input and a carry signal output, wherein a carry signal output corresponding to a selected one of said set of bitslices is coupled to a carry signal input of a next one of said set of bitslices, said carry signal output being responsive to said carry signal input, said carry signals having a directional signal flow; replacing each one of said set of bitslices with a first carry-logic block and a second logic block representing behavioral characteristics of said one of said set of bitslices; replacing carry-logic blocks coupled in series with a merge-carry block; constructing a logical truth table in response to said replacing steps; combining said second logic block with said merge-carry block using said logical truth table; and constructing a functional description for each said second logic block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said carry signal output is low independent of said carry signal input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said carry signal output is high independent of said carry signal input.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said carry signal output is the same as said carry signal input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said carry signal output is the inverse of said carry signal input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said component comprises an arithmetic function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of replacing each one of said set of bitslices further includes the following sub-steps: obtaining a truth table for each logic block corresponding to each one of said set of bitslices; decomposing said truth table; assigning an encoding to said truth table; and generating a truth table in response to said step of assigning.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of assigning further includes the following sub-steps: assigning an encoding for said output bit of each one of said set of bitslices when in a first state; and assigning an encoding for said carry signal output of each one of said set of bitslices when in a second state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of constructing a logical truth table further includes the following sub-steps: constructing a circuit having a first copy and a second copy of each said logic block; coupling said first copy to a first carry input value, producing a first output; coupling said second copy to a second carry input value, producing a second output; coupling said first output and said second output to a remapping block, producing a set of outputs; and constructing a set of logic equations corresponding to said set of outputs.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for verifying structural equivalence of a first circuit structure and a second circuit structure in the operation of a circuit design tool, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a description of the first circuit structure and a description of the second circuit structure; verifying that for each port/pin in said first description there is an equivalent port/pin in said second description; verifying that for each port/pin in said second description there is an equivalent port/pin in said first description; removing each delay gate and each time gate from said first structural description; removing each delay gate and each time gate from said second structural description; wherein each said delay gate includes an input and an output, said delay gate passing said input through to said output after a delay of one clock cycle, and wherein each said time gate includes an input, an output, and a designated clock cycle, wherein said in put is passed through to said output in said designated clock cycle; applying a set of replacement rules to said first structural description and said second structural description; and verifying equivalence of said first and second structural descriptions resulting from said applying step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for verifying structural equivalence of a first circuit structure and a second circuit structure in the operation of a circuit design tool, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a description of the first circuit structure and a description of the second circuit structure; verifying that for each port/pin in said first description there is an equivalent port/pin in said second description; verifying that for each port/pin in said second description there is an equivalent port/pin in said first description; removing each delay gate and each time gate from said first structural description; removing each delay gate and each time gate from said second structural description; wherein each said delay gate includes an input and an output, said delay gate passing said input through to said output after a delay of one clock cycle, and wherein each said time gate includes an input, an output, and a designated clock cycle, wherein said in put is passed through to said output in said designated clock cycle; applying a set of replacement rules to said first structural description and said second structural description; and verifying equivalence of said first and second structural descriptions resulting from said applying step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A method according to claim 19, both of said removing steps further comprising the sub-steps of: determining a number T of used clock cycles; constructing T copies of said structural description; coupling input and output bits for each one of said T clock cycles to corresponding copies of said structural description; replacing each time gate within each one of said T copies of said structural description with a connection from its clock cycle t to a next clock cycle t+1; and removing each unused logic block from each one of said T copies of said structural description, wherein each logic block comprises a set of input values, a set of output values, and is associated with a logic equation used to generate said set of output values from said set of input values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein a clock cycle is used if a time gate is active during said clock cycle, or if a bit appears at an input node during said clock cycle, or a bit is valid at an output node during said clock cycle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein a logic block is used if said logic block is coupled to at least one other logic block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein a logic block is used if said logic block's outputs are propagated to an output bit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method according to claim 10, said step of verifying equivalence comprising the sub-steps of: matching input bits of said first structural description to input bits of said second structural description; matching output bits of said first structural description to output bits of said second structural description; matching logic connections coupled to said output bits of said first structural description to logic connections coupled to said output bits of said second structural description; and matching logic blocks coupled to said logic connections of said first structural description to logic blocks coupled to said logic connections of said second structural description.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-06-07 | 2002-12-07 | 2003-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-07 | 2006-12-07 | 2007-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-07 | 2010-12-07 | 2011-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |