Automatic rapid prototyping of semi-custom VLSI circuits using actel FPGAs

Abstract : We describe a technique for translating semi-custom VLSI circuits automatically into field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for rapid prototyping to develop a system. Using an array multiplier as an example of this translation, the VLSI circuits are designed using a cell-matrix based environment. The multiplier is implemented in CMOS in both synchronous and asynchronous pipelined versions, and translated into Actel FPGAs. All test chips were found to be fully functional, and the translation efficiency in terms of chip speed and area is shown.