On the temporal equivalence of sequential circuits

Abstract

The authors extend the abstract notion of temporal behavior to compare arbitrary circuits with arbitrary multiphase clocking schemes. They consider the input-output behavior of circuits with respect to time. Properties are discussed that remain invariant under certain transformations. Constraints are derived that permit a legal retiming in the case of multiphase sequential circuits with edge triggered and/or transparent latches. For a particular design style an efficient procedure is described to check for temporal equivalence of sequential circuits. A model and a formal definition for the temporal behavior of an arbitrary multiphase circuits and an algorithm for formal verification of the temporal behavior of circuits are outlined.<>