Synthesis of a self-timed controller for a successive-approximation A/D converter

This paper documents the procedure for designing a self-timed controller for a successive-approximation A/D converter. From the functional specification, a Signal Transition Graph is constructed to describe the operation of the control circuit. This graph is then modified into a well-formed graph. Such a graph can be transformed into a deadlock-free and hazard-free implementation directly. The structure of the control circuit and the logic equations are then derived directly from the graph.