Asynchronous circuit

Asynchronous circuit (clockless or self-timed circuit)^[1]^{: Lecture 12} ^{[note 1]}^[2]^{: 157–186} is a sequential digital logic circuit that does not use a global clock circuit or signal generator to synchronize its components.^[1]^[3]^: 3–5 Instead, the components are driven by a handshaking circuit which indicates a completion of a set of instructions. Handshaking works by simple data transfer protocols.^[3]^: 115 Many synchronous circuits were developed in early 1950s as part of bigger asynchronous systems (e.g. ORDVAC). Asynchronous circuits and theory surrounding is a part of several steps in integrated circuit design, a field of digital electronics engineering.

Asynchronous circuits are contrasted with synchronous circuits, in which changes to the signal values in the circuit are triggered by repetitive pulses called a clock signal. Most digital devices today use synchronous circuits. However asynchronous circuits have a potential to be much faster, have a lower level of power consumption, electromagnetic interference, and better modularity in large systems. Asynchronous circuits are an active area of research in digital logic design.^[4]^[5]

It was not until the 1990s when viability of the asynchronous circuits was shown by real-life commercial products.^[3]^: 4

^ ^a ^b Horowitz, Mark (2007). "Advanced VLSI Circuit Design Lecture". Stanford University, Computer Systems Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2016-04-21.
^ Staunstrup, Jørgen (1994). A Formal Approach to Hardware Design. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Springer USA. ISBN 978-1-4615-2764-0. OCLC 852790160.
^ ^a ^b ^c Sparsø, Jens (April 2006). "Asynchronous Circuit Design A Tutorial" (PDF). Technical University of Denmark.
^ Nowick, S. M.; Singh, M. (May–June 2015). "Asynchronous Design — Part 1: Overview and Recent Advances" (PDF). IEEE Design and Test. 32 (3): 5–18. doi:10.1109/MDAT.2015.2413759. S2CID 14644656. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
^ Nowick, S. M.; Singh, M. (May–June 2015). "Asynchronous Design — Part 2: Systems and Methodologies" (PDF). IEEE Design and Test. 32 (3): 19–28. doi:10.1109/MDAT.2015.2413757. S2CID 16732793. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

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[Horowitz2007-1] Horowitz, Mark (2007). "Advanced VLSI Circuit Design Lecture". Stanford University, Computer Systems Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2016-04-21.

[3] Staunstrup, Jørgen (1994). A Formal Approach to Hardware Design. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Springer USA. ISBN 978-1-4615-2764-0. OCLC 852790160.

[Sparsø2006-4] Sparsø, Jens (April 2006). "Asynchronous Circuit Design A Tutorial" (PDF). Technical University of Denmark.

[5] Nowick, S. M.; Singh, M. (May–June 2015). "Asynchronous Design — Part 1: Overview and Recent Advances" (PDF). IEEE Design and Test. 32 (3): 5–18. doi:10.1109/MDAT.2015.2413759. S2CID 14644656. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

[6] Nowick, S. M.; Singh, M. (May–June 2015). "Asynchronous Design — Part 2: Systems and Methodologies" (PDF). IEEE Design and Test. 32 (3): 19–28. doi:10.1109/MDAT.2015.2413757. S2CID 16732793. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

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