Area Optimization with Non-linear Models in Core Mapping for System-on-Chips

Abstract

Linear models are regularly used for mapping cores to tiles in a chip. System-on-Chip (SoC) design requires integration of functional units with varying sizes, but conventional models only account for identical-sized cores. Linear models cannot calculate the varying areas of cores in SoCs directly and must rely on approximations. We propose using non-linear models: Semi-definite programming (SDP) allows easy model definitions and achieves approximately 20% reduced area and up to 80% reduced white space. As computational time is similar to linear models, they can be applied, practically.