BESTMAP: Behavioral Synthesis from C

We Present the high-level synthesis system BESTMAP. BESTMAP accepts circuit models written in a C- like behavioral modeling language, and synthesizes them into standard cells. The models are compatible to our simulator. Problems in using a programming language for design capture are discussed and the solution is explained. User defined circuit structures can be linked to the synthesis process such that hardware reusability is possible during the synthesis process. A test strategy to assure the robustness of BESTMAP and to guarantee the output of BESTMAP is functionally correct is also discussed. More than twenty industrial circuits have been synthesized using BESTMAP. The results show that the circuits produced by BESTMAP are about 16% smaller than the hand designs. BESTMAP system will be in production use in March 1989.