SystemC is often thought of as a hardware description language like VHDL and Verilog, but is more aptly described as a system description language, since it exhibits its real power during Electronic system level Design (ESL), transaction-level modeling, behavioral modeling, and High Level Synthesis. SystemC is defined and promoted by OSCI, the Open SystemC Initiative, and has been approved by the IEEE Standards Association as IEEE 1666™-2005 1, the SystemC Language Reference Manual (LRM). The LRM provides the definitive statement of the semantics of SystemC. Area and Power Reduction of Embedded DSP Systems using Instruction Compression and Re-configurable Encoding. Utility User's Manual. Reference Manual,' ver.2000. The home page for Catapult Synthesis on www.mentor.com. Reference model is described at functional le vel in C / C using SystemC. The size of the manual. See the openMSX User's Manual for more information about using harddisks. Every media input box is equipped with a history. Just click on the down arrow to open the history. This way you can easily select the most recently used files. Catapult remembers the last 25 items of each media field.
- Catapult C Synthesis User's And Reference Manual Instructions
- Catapult C Synthesis User's And Reference Manual Free
- Catapult C Synthesis User's And Reference Manual Template
Catapult was recognized by Gary Smith EDA as the high-level synthesis (HLS) leader for three years running. High-Level Synthesis from ANSI C and SystemC Catapult offers support both for pure untimed ANSI C and for SystemC, the two major standard languages for high-level design and synthesis. Nov 10, 2011 However, some optimizations are best performed automatically rather than manually, for example pipeline synthesis and optimization of C AL actors. In C AL designs, actions execute in a single-clock cycle (with exception to while loops and memory access). Large actions, therefore, would result in a large combinatorial logic and reduces the.
Catapult C Synthesis, a commercial electronic design automation product of Mentor Graphics, is a high-level synthesis tool, sometimes called algorithmic synthesis or ESL synthesis. Catapult C takes ANSI C/C++ and SystemC inputs[1] and generates register transfer level (RTL) code targeted to FPGAs and ASICs.[2]
History[edit]
In 2004, Mentor Graphics formally announced its Catapult C high level synthesis product offering hierarchical design support for synthesizing pipelined, multi-block subsystems from untimed ANSI C/C++ descriptions. Catapult C's main functionality was generating RTL (VHDL and Verilog) targeted to ASICs and FPGAs. Users specified constraints for timing and area, and provided a clock period and destination technology. Mentor also announced a Catapult C Library Builder for ASIC Designers to collect detailed characterization data.[3]
In 2005, Mentor announced extensions to Catapult C to automatically create SystemC transaction-level models and wrappers, for simulation of the design in verification environments supporting SystemC. Mentor also introduced interface synthesis to map the data transfer implied by passing of C++ function arguments to hardware interfaces such as wires, registers, handshaked registers, memories, buses or more complex user-defined interfaces.[4]
In 2006, Mentor announced Catapult SL (System Level) for automatically creating signal processing subsystems. Catapult SL could coordinate the partitioning of sequential C operations into multiple blocks within the subsystem, including partitioning into multiple clock domains. Catapult SL automatically inserts appropriate inter-block channels and memory buffers to assemble the sub-system.[5]
In January 2009, Mentor announced an integration between Catapult C and its Vista SystemC design and simulation environment to automatically generate transaction-level models (TLM). In this process, the untimed ANSI C++ input to Catapult is encapsulated in a TLM wrapper; timing information is extracted from the synthesis results and back-annotated in the resulting model. The flow is compatible with the TLM-2.0 standard from the Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI).[6]
In June 2009, Mentor announced that it enhanced Catapult C with the ability to synthesize control logic, create power-optimized RTL netlists, with automatic multi-level clock gating, and an automated verification flow to enable a debug of the RTL against the original C++ input.[7]
In January 2010, Mentor announced the ability for Catapult C to take direct SystemC input, including both cycle-based and transaction level (TLM) support.[8]Apple ipod model a1136 user manual pdf.
In May 2011, Mentor announced that Catapult C supported TLM synthesis. Abstract TLM models are converted to pin-accurate, protocol-specific, SystemC models, and from there, synthesized to RTL code. Existing synthesizable descriptions can be converted to TLMs.[9]
In August 2011, Catapult C was acquired by Calypto Design Systems.[10]
In September 2015, Mentor Graphics acquired Calypto Design Systems[11], thus reacquiring Catapult C.
Features[edit]
CatapultC synthesizes ANSI C/C++ without proprietary extensions. The C/C++ language support includes pointers, classes, templates, template specialization and operator overloading, which facilitate design reuse methodology over RTL code.[12]
Catapult C supports both algorithmic and control logic synthesis.[13]
Designers do iterations with CatC to pick their preferred micro architecture for specified performance and area constraints.[14] Catapult has a graphic user interface with a visual view of the hardware circuit it is scheduling, as well as the clock reference between the C code and the Verilog RTL code. Catapult C has 3 types of simulation using the original C/C++ testbench: Cycle-based, RTL-based, and Gate-Level based.[15]
Catapult C supports SystemC model generation intended for virtual platforms, and a SystemC test environment to verify the generated RTL against the original C++ using the original C++ testbench.
Catapult C supports the synthesis of Transaction Level Models (TLM), including standard off-the-shelf bus interfaces and custom protocols.[16]
Competing HLS Products[edit]
- Vivado HLS from Xilinx (formerly, AutoPilot from AutoESL)
- Intel HLS from Intel (formerly a++ from Altera)
- BlueSpec Compiler from BlueSpec
- Impulse C CoDeveloper from Impulse Accelerated Technologies
- C-to-Silicon from Cadence Design Systems
- Synphony C Compiler from Synopsys
- Cynthesizer from Forte Design Systems
- LegUp from University of Toronto
- CyberWorkBench from NEC [1]
- C-to-Verilog from C-to-Verilog.com
- eXCite from Y Explorations
- ParC C++ extended for parallel processing and hardware description
- HDL Coder from MathWorks
References[edit]
Catapult C Synthesis User's And Reference Manual Instructions
- ^Chip Design Bridging ESL and High-Level Synthesis
- ^University of Oulu Rapid Scheduling of Efficient VLSI Architectures for Next-Generation HSDPA Wireless System Using C Synthesis
- ^EETimes: High-level synthesis rollouts enable ESL[permanent dead link]
- ^SOCCentral Mentor Graphics Extends Catapult C Synthesis ProductArchived 2006-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^SOCCentral Mentor Introduces High-Level Synthesis to Create High-Performance Subsystems from Pure ANSI C++Archived 2012-09-13 at Archive.today.
- ^EETimes Mentor TLM 2.0 design flow
- ^SCDsource Mentor Catapult C synthesizes control and power managementArchived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^Chip Design Bridging ESL and High-Level Synthesis
- ^EETimes Mentor’s TLM Synthesis links virtual prototyping and hardware implementation
- ^EETimes Calypto acquires Mentor's Catapult C
- ^PR Newswire Mentor Graphics Acquires Calypto Design Systems
- ^University of Oulu Rapid Scheduling of Efficient VLSI Architectures for Next-Generation HSDPA Wireless System Using C Synthesis
- ^SCDsource Mentor Catapult C synthesizes control and power managementArchived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ICASSP Architectural Design and Implementation of the Increasing Radius – List Sphere Detector Algorithm
- ^Deepchip C/C++ chip design using high-level synthesis
- ^EETimes Mentor’s TLM Synthesis links virtual prototyping and hardware implementation
External links[edit]
WILSONVILLE, Ore., January 25, 2010 – Mentor Graphics Corp. (NASDAQ: MENT) today announced that the Catapult® C Synthesis tool has added SystemC synthesis, expanding the Catapult C tool’s full-chip synthesis capabilities. This complements the Catapult C tool’s existing algorithmic, control logic, and low power synthesis capabilities and expands its full-chip synthesis application scope through the efficient handling of specific SoC needs such as complex bus interfaces, SoC interconnect and TLM2.0-based ESL flows.
Catapult C support for SystemC source descriptions augments its existing support for ANSI C++ input, allowing high-level synthesis users to choose the industry standard high-level synthesis language that best suits their company’s methodology. The Catapult C tool now supports SystemC cycle-based descriptions, and goes beyond traditional solutions by also offering support for transaction-level synthesis.
Dual Language Support Ideal for Full-Chip High-Level Synthesis Methodology
In addition to its well established support of abstract source descriptions in pure untimed ANSI C++, the Catapult C tool now offers an extra level of modeling granularity with cycle-accurate SystemC. This unique dual language approach offers designers a wide range of modeling and synthesis options. The Catapult C tool users now have the ability to express complex interface protocols, such as those found in SoC bus interconnects, using a timed SystemC source while keeping the rest of the design functionality in pure untimed ANSI C++. Designers can also express structure and hierarchy either by using SystemC modules or by inferring them from natural C++ boundaries; such as functions, loops or scopes. The result is a standards-based method where legacy synthesizable SystemC models can easily be leveraged in the Catapult C environment, as well as linked with untimed ANSI C++ sources.
Mentor did not stop with support for timed SystemC as is prevalent in existing SystemC high-level synthesis tools, but also added support for abstract SystemC FIFO communication and TLM-based ESL flows, matching high-level synthesis with ESL practices. Traditionally, SystemC synthesis tools have forced designers into a coding style based on clocks and signals. However, transaction-level modeling has emerged as the most widespread way of using SystemC. Recent surveys indicate that 80 percent of today’s SystemC users favor working on transactional models above the cycle accurate level, and today most ESL activities, such as architecture analysis and virtual prototyping, rely on TLM. By supporting a modeling style compatible with the OSCI TLM2.0 approach, the Catapult C tool offers strong ties with ESL flows, methods and tools—such as the Mentor Vista™ platform—for comprehensive ESL design, verification and synthesis.
“Mentor's decision to add SystemC support to a proven high-level synthesis flow with Catapult C synthesis is very welcome,” said Takashi Hasegawa, Deputy General Manager, SoC Solutions Division, Common IP & Technology Development Unit, Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited. “We’ve made efforts for a long time for the standardization of SystemC, and also anticipate that this addition will enable us to handle an even broader range of application challenges and provide more flexibility in using Catapult C with Fujitsu supplied silicon technology libraries for our mutual customers.”
“Mentor’s Catapult C tool provides the right balance between detail and abstraction of advantage by dual language. Its cycle-accurate SystemC support gives us fine-grain control over our design and ability to read legacy synthesizable SystemC IP, while its unique support for SystemC-TLM provides the abstraction missing from other HLS tools,” said Yoshinao Umeda, President, PRIMEGATE Ltd. “We are confident that Catapult C will have a positive impact on not only our business, but also most of electronic and automotive businesses, and help our customers experience more success with their ESL flows.”
“By expanding the Catapult C tool’s high-level synthesis language support to include both ANSI C++ and SystemC, Mentor is demonstrating its continuing commitment to standards and interoperability,” said Simon Bloch, Vice President and General Manager of the Mentor Graphics Design and Synthesis Division. “In particular, the convergence of SystemC TLM and high-level synthesis will enable the semiconductor industry at large to move up in abstraction and make strides in improving overall design productivity.”
About Catapult
The Catapult C Synthesis tool automatically generates control and algorithmic RTL multi-block designs from pure ANSI C++ and SystemC sources. This process gives designers time and freedom to automatically perform detailed design exploration and quickly achieve fully optimized and error-free hardware implementation. By accelerating time to verified RTL without sacrificing quality of results, Catapult C provides the productivity boost required to tackle the design and verification challenges of modern ASIC design. Catapult C has been recognized as the High Level Synthesis market leader by Gary Smith EDA for 3 years in a row.
Catapult C Synthesis User's And Reference Manual Free
About Mentor Graphics
Catapult C Synthesis User's And Reference Manual Template
Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world’s most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $800 million and employs approximately 4,425 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: www.mentor.com/.