Special-Purpose Computer for Logic Simulation Using Distributed Processing

The logic circuit simulator is an important component of a CAD system. It is used to predict logic circuit operation and performance under normal and faulty conditions. The application of the logic circuit simulator can be divided into two major areas: verification of new logic hardware designs and fault analysis of these designs. As an evaluation tool, it can be used to verify the logical correctness of new hardware designs. Other information that can be obtained using a logic simulator include timing and signal propagation characteristics, and race and oscillatory circuit conditions. If the results of simulation indicate an unsatisfactory design, i.e., the circuit does not perform as expected, then changes can be made to the design. The design can be reevaluated using the simulator. After a number of iterations, a satisfactory design ready for committing to hardware should result. A logic circuit simulator used as above is known as a true value simulator. * This paper is based on material to be submitted by S. H. Patel in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology.