Using Logic Programming and Coroutining for VLSI Design (Summary)

We show how an extended Prolog can be exploited to implement different electronic CAD tools. Starting with a computer hardware description language (CHDL) several problems like digital circuit analysis, simulation and code generation for programmable microprocessors are discussed. For that purpose a part of the MIMOLA (machine independent microprogramming language) system MSS (MIMOLA hardware design system) is presented. Several advantages obtained by applying techniques of logic programming to solve problems in the area of integrated circuit design are shown. Especially maintenance, small source code, backtracking and the extension of standard Prolog by a coroutining mechanism to express Boolean constraints are pointed out. 2