Module selection for pipelined synthesis

Abstract

Module selection is one of the many functions which have to be performed during behavioral synthesis of pipelined designs. Module selection is the process of choosing the types of modules (e.g. carry-look-ahead adder) to implement each operation (e.g. addition). In this paper, we give a limited solution to the module selection problem for pipelined designs. A model for estimating area-time tradeoffs [3] for pipelined designs is used to formulate the module selection problem, and an overview of the solution technique is given. Complexities introduced by non-optimal designs and user constraints are also addressed. The results have been validated using designs generated by an automated pipeline synthesis program.