Emeritus Professor of Electronics

School of Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering

Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

United Kingdom

Background:

David Kinniment is Professor Emeritus at Newcastle University, having been Professor of Electronics in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering between 1979 and 1998.

His background is in computer hardware design at Manchester University where he worked on a number of research computers. He currently works part time, mainly on asynchronous design and design methodology, with Prof Alex Yakovlev in the Computer Science Dept.

Projects in this area are supported by the EPSRC, and are concerned with the theory, design, and application of asynchronous controllers and communication mechanisms. The University is also a member of the ACiD EU Network for asynchronous design. Within the EEE Dept he is involved with the EPSRC supported SETNET Semiconductor Test Network

Written by one of the foremost researchers in this area of digital design, this authoritative text provides in-depth theory and practical design solutions for the reliable working of synchronization and arbitration hardware in digital systems. The book provides methods for making real reliability measurements both on and off chip, evaluating some of the common difficulties and detailing circuit solutions at both circuit and system levels. Synchronization and Arbitration in Digital Systems also presents:

* mathematical models used to estimate mean time between failures in digital systems;

* a summary of serial and parallel communication techniques for on-chip data transmission;

* explanations on how to design a wrapper for a locally synchronous cell, highlighting the issues associated with stoppable clocks;

* an examination of various types of priority arbiters, using signal transition graphs to show the specification of different designs (from the simplest to more complex multi-way arbiters) including ways of solving problems encountered in a wide range of applications;

* essential information on systems composed of independently timed regions, including a discussion on the problem of choice and the factors affecting the time taken to make choices in electronics.

With its logical approach to design methodology, this will prove an invaluable guide for electronic and computer engineers and researchers working on the design of digital electronic hardware. Postgraduates and senior undergraduate students studying digital systems design as part of their electronic engineering course will struggle to find a resource that better details the information given inside this book.