Automated IC Design via User Dialogue Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face a steep learning curve when creating circuit designs for programmable integrated circuits (ICs) due to the requirement of various skills and the need to use multiple design tools, leading to high memory and CPU usage.

Innovation Solution

An automated design system that conducts a dialogue with users to extract design features, generates a design specification, and creates a device configuration loadable within the programmable IC, reducing user involvement and tool usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users manually create circuit designs using multiple design tools, then design flexibility and control are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidease of use
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated design system that acts as an intermediary between the user and the complex design tools. The system includes a natural language processing module that translates user requirements into design specifications, and an automated design generation module that creates circuit designs without requiring users to manually operate multiple design tools. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by maintaining design flexibility through customizable parameters while dramatically improving ease of operation through automated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually create circuit designs using multiple design tools, then design control is improved, but device complexity and resource usage worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple design tools and functions into a single integrated automated design system. The system combines natural language processing, design specification generation, and circuit design creation into one unified platform. This merging reduces system complexity from the user perspective while maintaining comprehensive design control through the automated system's ability to handle multiple design aspects simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated design system is designed with multi-functionality, capable of handling various design tasks including requirement analysis, specification generation, and circuit design creation. The system can process different types of inputs and generate diverse design outputs, providing universal design control without requiring users to manage multiple separate tools, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If automated design tools are used to reduce user involvement, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoiddesign accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The automated design system incorporates feedback mechanisms where design specifications and generated circuits are validated against user requirements and design constraints. The system includes verification modules that check design accuracy and allow for iterative refinement. This feedback loop ensures that automated design generation maintains high precision by continuously verifying outputs against expected criteria and allowing user corrections when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10922463B1User dialog-based automated system design for programmable integrated circuits
Publication Date: 2021.02.16 XILINX INC
  • US10922463B1 patent drawing
  • US10922463B1 patent drawing
  • US10922463B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Automated system design for a programmable integrated circuit (IC) includes conducting, using computer hardware, a dialogue with a user, wherein the dialogue describes a user design for the programmable IC, extracting, using the computer hardware, a first plurality of features for the user design from the dialog, and generating, using the computer hardware, a design specification for the user design based on the first plurality of features. Using the computer hardware, a device configuration for the user design is generated based on the design specification. The device configuration is loadable within the programmable IC to implement the user design.