ALD's Design Methodology

Specification Phase:

During this initial project phase, our engineers work with the client to determine the product's goals, requirements and restrictions.  We evaluate the design trade-offs and create a preliminary design.  This design includes very specific design details; part selection, register bits and their operation, space and power budgets, and performance estimates.  The phase concludes with an extensive written report, the Specification, outlining these results.  A specification review meeting and approval is conducted with the client prior to the beginning of the design phase.

Design Phase:

Our design methodology tightly integrates modern tools and technology. Our CAD tool chain employs OrCAD Capture for schematics, Simian's SILOS III for verilog simulation, Synplicity's synthesis tool and Altera's MAXPlusII for FPGA place and route.

We start the design phase from the preliminary design in the specification. All detailed logic design is written in a high level language, verilog, and simulated with estimated timing parameters to verify proper operation. This simulation is done at the highest level possible, commonly the board level. Complex parts like processors and large LSI devices are modeled with simple bus models.

Once the functional behavior is confirmed, the design is synthesized into EDIF. Our current choice for programmable logic is Altera's very complete line of products. Their place and route tool, MAXPlusII generates a back annotated, gate level verilog file with exact timing. This is substituted back into the original simulation to verify proper operation at speed.

The last step in the design phase is the design review meeting. At this meeting, all of the deliverables are reviewed with the client:

	schematics
	simulation results
	bill of materials
	PLD/FPGA source files

Fabrication and Debug Phase:

Once the design has been approved by the client, we layout and fabricate the printed circuit board (PCB). While this activity is in process, parts are ordered for the prototype (typically 5) build. When the material has arrived, one board is assembled for debug. The assembled board is integrated with all of its required host hardware in our laboratory and the diagnostic suite is executed.

After successful completion of the diagnostic suite, the remaining 4 boards are assembled and tested, the documentation is updated and delivered to the client.

Production Phase:

This phase is commonly performed by the client, with integration assistance from ALD. We support the client with on-site training and/or a Theory of Operation document. We typically will assist manufacturing test during the initial factory run and anytime thereafter when requested.

On occasion, a client will request that ALD manufacture small quantities of the product. We are prepared to ship quantities of 50-100 per month of tested product to the client.