Asynchronous Communication Mechanisms Using Self-Timed Circuits

Two asynchronous data communication mechanisms (ACMs) using self-timed circuits are presented. Mutual exclusion elements are used to concentrate potential metastability to discrete points so that it can be resolved entirely within the ACMs themselves. Self-timed circuits allow the minimisation of the interface between the reader and writer processes and the ACMs. Initial analysis shows that these VLSI solutions are more robust with regard to steering logic metastability, and can potentially run faster than solutions under fundamental mode assumptions. They are therefore more suitable for use in on-chip multi-processing systems.