Teak: A Token-Flow Implementation for the Balsa Language

This paper describes a new target component set and synthesis scheme for the Balsa asynchronous hardware description language. This new scheme removes the reliance on precise handshake interleaving and enclosure by separating out control `go' and `done' signalling into separate channels rather than using different phases of the asynchronous handshake. This leads to circuits in which optimisation and control overhead mitigation can be carried out by merging/separating control and data channels and by introducing handshake-decoupling latches. This work aims to make Balsa descriptions implementable in the more widely used and understood higher performance token-based asynchronous circuit styles. Keywords

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: ACSD
• Authors: Andrew Bardsley, Luis A. Tarazona, Doug A. Edwards
• Keywords: ACSD 2009, Asynchronous, Balsa Asynchronous Hardware, Hardware, Token-based Asynchronous Circuit