Computer-based tool and method for designing an electronic circuit and related system

摘要

A computer-based circuit-design tool includes a front end, an interpreter coupled to the front end, and a generator coupled the interpreter. The front end receives symbols that define an algorithm, and the interpreter parses the algorithm into respective algorithm portions. The generator identifies a corresponding circuit template for each of the algorithm portions, each template defining a circuit for executing the respective algorithm portion, and interconnects the identified templates such that the interconnected templates define a circuit that is operable to execute the algorithm. As compared to prior design tools, this tool may decrease the time and effort required to design a circuit for instantiation on a programmable logic integrated circuit (PLIC) or on an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) by allowing one to construct the circuit from previously written templates that define previously tested and debugged circuits.