Controller synthesis for application specific digital signal processors

A CAD tool for on chip controller synthesis to digital signal processors has been developed. Micro programmed digital signal processors often have a complicated control flow where structure and complexity of the micro program varies considerably between applications. Therefore, an advanced controller architecture adaptive to various algorithms is synthesized. The controller generates control words for datapath modules and can alter the control flow depending on signals generated in the datapath. Many applications require memories for coefficients and data storage. Address calculation to these memories is a natural part of the micro program. Hence, the controller synthesizer also generates memories and address processing units. Synchronization and communication with external circuitry is an important part of many signal processors. The controller synthesizer facilitates such functions. The controller synthesizer is part of a design system where algorithms are transformed from a high level description to an integrated circuit. No restrictions on datapath architecture or processor complexity, other than technology limitations, are set by the system. The controller synthesizer has proved useful for rapid design of complex digital signal processors and has been used for several designs of varying complexity. Complexity, partitioning and the size of synthesized controllers vary depending on the algorithm and the micro program. A main goal was to be technology independent and to be capable of interfacing to different cell libraries and thereby to various vendors. To verify this the synthesizer supports two different cell libraries