This work presents a case study where a telecommunication circuit is developed based on VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) standard. The circuit is composed by a connection matrix, simple DSP functions, programmable attenuation function coupled with an A-Law expansion/compression circuit. This work intends to face partial results (timing and area consumption as well as development time) from a previously developed VHDL code to the results from a circuit developed with the Renoir and Leonardo software assistance. People with different experience level were involved. The previous code was made by an experienced student who used Maxplus2 from Altera to fit the circuit in programmable devices. The work using Lonardo and Renoir is being developed by other person to avoid the knowledge of the developer can modify the results. This analysis will provide information about VHDL code quality, area minimization, timing constraints enforcement as well as design documentation. It is being used to determine if the adoption of those software assistance in future works is worth. Functionality and timing of both codes are being analyzed into Mentor Graphics environment. Encouraging results are being obtained including area optimization and test bench construction abilities. On the other hand, some difficulties when interfacing optimized codes from Leonardo( in the Altera software are being faced. Some effort has been done in familiarizing people with the tools features and in determining avoidable structures and/or the tool correct use.

Bio

Fabio Kurt Schneider graduated in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering at Federal Center for Education in Technology of Parana (CEFET-PR) in 1989. He post-graduated in Production Engineering at Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in 1990 and he obtained his M.Sc. degree in Biomedical Engineering into optoelectronics instrumentation area in 1995, from CEFET-PR, Brazil. Currently, he is professor by the electronics department in that institution. His activities and interests include biomedical equipment design, optoelectronics instrumentation, computer aided design and concurrent engineering.