P. Antognetti University of Genova, Italy Director of the NATO ASI The key importance of VLSI circuits is shown by the national efforts in this field taking place in several countries at differ- ent levels (government agencies, private industries, defense de- partments). As a result of the evolution of IC technology over the past two decades, component complexi ty has increased from one single to over 400,000 transistor functions per chip. Low cost of such single chip systems is only possible by reducing design cost per function and avoiding cost penalties for design errors. Therefore,...

We are about to enter a period of radical change in computer architecture. It is made necessary by adL)anCeS in processing tech- nology that will make it possible to build devices exceeding in performance and complexity anything conceived in the past. These advances the logical extension of large - to very-large-scale in- J tegration (VLSI) are all but inevitable. With the large number of shlitching elements available in a sinqle chip as promised by VLSI technology, the question that arises naturally is: What can hle do hlith this technology and hOhl can hle best utilize it? The final...

The Nato Advanced Study Institute on "Computer Design Aids for VLSI Circuits" was held from July 21 to August 1, 1980 at Sogesta, Urbino, Italy. Sixty-three carefully chosen profes sionals were invited to participate in this institute together with 12 lecturers and 7 assistants. The 63 participants were selected from a group of almost 140 applicants. Each had the background to learn effectively the set of computer IC design aids which were presented. Each also had individual expertise in at least one of the topics of the Institute. The Institute was designed to provide hands-on type of...