C tool provides algorithmic synthesis
By Gabe Moretti -- EDN, July 22, 2004
C users must translate their designs into either Verilog or VHDL to implement the necessary digital circuitry. Some tools provide this translation, but no equivalence-checking tool exists to verify the translation. To execute the synthesis—going from one level of abstraction to one that is closer to the implementation—a tool refers to a library of primitive building blocks at the level of abstraction of the target netlist. A tool that can synthesize the algorithms written in C into a form acceptable to logic synthesis tools requires a library that contains RTL building blocks that pertain to the designer’s implementation. It is therefore difficult for an EDA vendor to develop a generic library that can yield results that are equivalent or better than manual implementations, because the library would be too big and at times even confusing to a synthesis tool.
This problem is the reason that previous synthesis products, targeting the behavior or algorithmic level, have failed. Mentor Graphics has solved the problem with the joint introduction of Catapult library builder and Catapult C synthesis. Designers use the library builder to develop an application-specific library of primitive blocks they want to use in their RTL netlists. The Synthesis product uses the contents of the library to generate the C or SystemC description of the design in to the equivalent RTL netlist. In addition, the Catapult C synthesis product also performs interface synthesis and allows the source code to remain independent of the hardware-interface implementation.
Designers can thus analyze performance trade-offs among a number of implementation schemes, such as single- or dual-port memories and or various bus protocols. Designers can use the product when they are developing either ASICs or FPGAs because the resulting RTL is independent of the technology for fabrication. Prices for the Catapult C synthesis tool start at $89,000 for a one-year term license, and prices for the Catapult C library-builder tool start at $24,000 for a one-year term license.
Mentor Graphics Corp, www.mentor.com.
