Bolton presents a modern and structured approach to digital system design by means of programmable logic, a semi-custom technology that is widely used today. The book is aimed at anyone who has attended at least a first course on logic design and has some knowledge of simple Boolean design methods and of gate circuits. Thus it is suitable for advanced undergraduates, beginning postgraduates, and interested electronic engineers. The author considers the book a supplement to the application material supplied by semiconductor manufacturers, which in general does not include rigorous and systematic design methods.

The first chapter presents digital systems as abstract entities, independent of any particular implementation. It gives no design methods, but only an introduction to the considerations that are needed. Chapter 2 reviews the logic design principles and notations that are used in the remainder of the book. Starting from Boolean algebra, it goes through minimization, finite state machines, and basic arithmetic circuits.

Chapter 3 deals with the principles of array logic and presents the principal types of programmable logic devices, starting from a general model. The chapter is structured historically, in order to show the origins of the ideas and allow a coherent development.

Chapter 4 begins the discussion of detailed design techniques. The principles of minimization are introduced starting from classical hand methods, adapted for application to programmable logic. The algorithms used by some well-known minimizers are then outlined. Chapter 5 deals with the techniques for implementing combinatorial logic in programmable devices. The author covers choosing the correct component and partitioning logic between more than one device. He also discusses delay and hazard as well as the number of gates a programmable logic replaces.

Chapters 6 and 7 discuss the design of synchronous sequential circuits in increasing detail. They emphasize state machine controllers and programmable sequencers. Specification methods, logic design, and performance aspects are studied in detail.

Chapter 8 considers the use of programmable logic for the design of data paths. Bolton discusses the principles and applications of special-purpose programmable devices, which are ideally suited to data path design. The chapter also deals with the problems that are encountered in linking the control and data sections.

Chapter 9 covers the basics of asynchronous design which, despite its pitfalls, will always have a role in the design of digital systems. The author gives an easy-to-use method for the design of self-clocked asynchronous circuits. The chapter ends with a brief discussion of the phenomenon of metastability. Chapter 10 presents some ideas that underlie current CAD tools. The author discusses some general requirements of a specification method and then gives the main features of some representative CAD tools. The chapter then investigates design verification by simulation and the problems of testing and of producing testable designs.

Each chapter ends with bibliographical notes covering the material of the chapter. An appendix contains the most complete list ever published of known programmable device architectures.