VHDL top-down design methodology and capability within Boeing

Summary form only given. Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design requirements within Boeing span the range of highly reliable parts for use in commercial airplanes to radiation hardened parts required for space applications. The author discusses the tools and infrastructure in place to meet the diverse ASIC development requirements. The top down design process controls and captures the design from conception, through system level modeling, to VHDL design entry, finishing with physical design producing the foundry ready database. Foundry independence and flexibility are accomplished through synthesis and also supported by physical design tools that give better control and choice in library selection. Low volume production requirements and foundry accesses that are becoming scarcer require complete foundry independence. Physical design flexibility is achieved through the use of a silicon compiler tool that provides not only foundry retargetability but also cell development capability for creation and additions of library functions. Critical timing verifications and optimization are also supported as part of the layout options