Application Specific Digital and Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Designs Based on Algorithm Hardware Co-Design

Commercial off-the-shelf semiconductor devices cannot supply system solutions provided by ASIC products. Only a few of the most obvious benefits include lower system costs, smaller volumes and weights, and improved system performance. An ASIC design solution can sometimes be used in conjunction with analogue or mixed-signal designs, but doing so requires weighing various factors, such as the level of available market technology and quality vs. the investment required to set up a mixed-mode design environment and hire sufficient staff. Two mixed-signal devices have been developed using the proposed approaches, and one of those devices (e.g., ABACUS) is part of an ESPRIT project partially funded by the European Commission.