STRICT(ID:7848/)

HDL, Uni of Newcastle, 1985
References:
  • Campell, R.H., Koelmans, A.M. and McLauchlan, M.R. "STRICT: A Design Language for Strongly Typed Recursive Integrated Circuits" CS-TR: 211, Department of Computing Science, University of Newcastle, 1985 view details Abstract: Chip designs should be processed by building from a large selection of appropriate component designs. Each component should be modular but the resulting design should permit consistency checking. STRICT attempts to embody these prnciples in a formal notation for the design of integrated circuits.
    External link: Online copy
  • Koelmans, A.M., McLauchlan, M.R. and Robson, A.P. "The STRICT Language and Design Methodology" CS-TR: 244, Department of Computing Science, University of Newcastle, 1987 view details Abstract: The STRICT hardware description language and design systems allow the design of complex integrated circuits using methods derived from software engineering techniques. A STRICT design comprises an integrated description of both behavioural and structure; the design process initially concentrates on the behavioural aspects. Structural information may be omitted until the later stages of the design process. Behavioural specifications may be very detailed at the lower levels of the design hierarchy. The STRICT simulator subsystem compares behavioural specifications at any two levels in the hierarchy and reports back to the designer about the feasibility of his behavioural specifications. Once the designer is satisfied that his behavioural specifications are correct the structural details can be added, although mask level details are never required. The layout subsystem will then translate the structural specifications into mask patterns using appropriate libraries. This methodology allows a designer to experiment with different algorithms and thus to explore the design space, while catching design errors at an early stage.
    External link: Online copy
  • Koelmans, A.M., McLauchlan, M.R. and Kinniment, D.J. "Asynchronous Extensions to the STRICT High Level Design System" CS-TR: 272, Department of Computing Science, University of Newcastle, 1988 view details Abstract: The basis of the ver increasing complexity of VLSI systems is a reduction in feature sizes which in turn leads to an increase in timing problems due to , among other things, clock skew. This is likely to result, in the coming decade in an upsurge in the use of asynchronous or self timed design styles, whose function is mainly to eliminate these kind of timing problems. The STRICT language and design system are currently being extended to allow accurate modelling and automatic generation of asynchronous designs based upon Petri Nets. We discuss the main issues involved and illustrate these with an example.
    External link: Online copy
  • Kuszynski, C.A., Busfield, T., Koelmans, A.M., McLauchlan, M.R. and Kinniment, D.J. "Graphical Representation of a Hardware Description Language" CS-TR: 318, Department of Computing Science, University of Newcastle, 1990 view details Abstract: A set of tools are presented which are aimed at producing graphical representations of a number of aspects of the behaviour and structure of hardware designs expressed in the Hardware Description Language STRICT. Three main types of diagrams are described. Firstly, a structural diagram in which the implementation of a block in terms of sub blocks and their interconnection is shown; secondly, a control flow diagram which is presented as a Petri Net giving the control behaviour; and finally a resource usage diagram illustrating the results of exercising a particular block in terms of the silicon area occupied and the time required to compute the result. The information presented in graphical form is that described by the source language, but the graphics provide a more easily comprehensible medium. Our belief is that this medium can often assist in a better understanding of the structure and behaviour of a particular algorithm and its implementation, which may then lead to a better optimised system. External link: Online copy