Mathematical techniques for low-cost optimisation of digital MOS circuits

The author discusses, optimisation methods for MOS VLSI digital circuits. Typically, signal delay, chip area and power dissipation are the optimisation criteria. Since they are in conflict, complex multiobjective programming problems have to be solved. Novel mathematical methods are presented, which allow for a complete and accurate solution at low computational cost. The new methods guarantee that only the relevant global design optima are calculated. There is no confusion with solutions that are only of local optimality. This reduces the numerical effort and eliminates convergence problems found for other algorithms