Recent advances in asynchronous design methodologies

Abstract

This tutorial surveys recent advances in asynchronous design methodologies. Whenever possible, actual design examples are used to present the methods. Three primary topics are discussed: (1) asynchronous controllers, (2) asynchronous datapaths, and (3) asynchronous systems. For asynchronous controllers, basic design styles and tools are presented. For asynchronous datapaths, basic issues in timed vs. self-timed, matched delay vs. completion sensing, and power vs. performance tradeoff are discussed. For asynchronous systems, recently fabricated system design examples in processors, coprocessors, and DSP's are described.