Performance analysis and optimization of VLSI dataflow arrays

Motivated primarily by their potential for VLSI implementation, wavefront arrays have recently attracted significant research interest. Relative to their systolic counterparts, the asynchronous, data-driven nature of wavefront arrays eliminates the need for global synchronization and control. However, performance analysis for wavefront arrays is more complex. In this paper we introduce a datallow graph model for the timing analysis of general (cyclic or acyclic), decision-free asynchronous architectures. We then show how the results of this analysis can be used to synthesize optimal (in terms of speed and storage) special-purpose hardware implementations of both general datallow arrays and regular wavefront arrays.