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Design Hierarchy

 

  • The hierarchy, or 'divide and conquer' strategy, entails breaking down a subsystem into sub-modules and then repeating the process on the sub-modules until the smaller parts' complexity is manageable. This method is similar to how large programmes are broken down into smaller and smaller parts before simple subroutines with well-defined functions and interfaces can be written in software. 

  • It is nothing but dividing the task into smaller tasks until it reaches to its simplest level. This process is most suitable because the last evolution of design has become so simple that its manufacturing becomes easier.

    We can design the given task into the design flow process's domain (Behavioral, Structural, and Geometrical). To understand this, let’s take an example of designing a 16-bit adder, as shown in the figure below.



  • Here, the whole chip of 16 bit adder is divided into four modules of 4-bit adders. Further, dividing the 4-bit adder into 1-bit adder or half adder. 1 bit addition is the simplest designing process and its internal circuit is also easy to fabricate on the chip. Now, connecting all the last four adders, we can design a 4-bit adder and moving on, we can design a 16-bit adder.

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