METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMMABLE ARCHITECTURE ELEMENTS REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTING A LOOK-UP TABLE IN A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICE

A method and apparatus for reducing the number of programmable architecture elements required for implementing a look-up table in a programmable logic device. At least one logic function to be performed by the look-up table is chosen. An output state is determined for each set of inputs to the look-up table, the output state being an array of outputs of the look-up table. Each output state is made up of responses of the chosen logic functions to a particular set of input variables. Identical output states are formed into groups. Selected groups of the output states which do not require programmable architecture elements are eliminated. A programmable architecture element is then assigned for each remaining group of output states.