UC Santa Cruz

Memory compilers, such as OpenRAM, are an ideal addition to most digital chip designs as they automate netlist, layout, and characterization of memories. This thesis presents the first place & route of OpenRAM memories and adds write masking, which allows Open-RAM to generate the memories necessary for processor design. To perform synthesis and place & route, we modify OpenRAM’s timing and power model and physical model files. To add write masking, we alter OpenRAM’s netlist, layout, and characterization. These enhancements culminate in the place and route of a small RISC-V CPU with OpenRAM memories. This CPU is 2.14x smaller than the flip-flop implementation.