Knowledge-Based Physical Design Automation

This paper examines the role of knowledge based programming techniques in the computer aided design of VLSI circuits. It will be published as a chapter in a book entitled "Physical Design Automation - Concepts and Algorithms" being edited by Bryan Preas and Michael Lorenzetti. The paper begins by examining the physical design process and noting that there are design tasks which are difficult to automate using conventional procedural programming techniques. It then looks at the role of knowledge in the design process. This is followed by a section on expert systems; what they are, how they have evolved and that they offer the CAD tool builder. A survey of previous work shoes a number of experimental systems that have been successfully applied to small problems. Selected examples are examined in more detail in order t demonstrate particular techniques. Finally, a this paper takes a look at where the field is heading.