In this paper, we introduce a Shared Multiple Rooted XOR-based Decomposition Diagram (XORDD) to represent functions with multiple outputs. Based on the XORDD representation, we develop a synthesis algorithm for general Exclusive Sum-of-Product forms (ESOP). By iteratively applying transformations and reductions, we obtain a compact XORDD which gives a minimized ESOP. Our method can synthesize larger circuits than previously possible. The compact ESOP representation provides a form that is easier to synthesize for XOR heavy multi-level circuits, such as arithmetic functions. We have applied our synthesis techniques to a large set of benchmark circuits in both PLA and combinational formats. Results of the minimized ESOP forms obtained from our synthesis algorithm are also compared to the SOP forms generated by ESPRESSO. Among the 74 circuits we have experimented with, the minimized ESOP's have fewer product terms than those of SOP's in 39 circuits.

Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (OBDDs) are graph-based representations of Boolean functions which are widely used because of their good properties. In this paper, we introduce nondeterministic OBDDs (NOBDDs) and their restricted forms, and evaluate their expressive power. In some applications of OBDDs, canonicity, which is one of the good properties of OBDDs, is not necessary. In such cases, we can reduce the required amount of storage by using OBDDs in some non-canonical form. A class of NOBDDs can be used as a non-canonical form of OBDDs. In this paper, we focus on two particular methods which can be regarded as using restricted forms of NOBDDs. Our aim is to show how the size of OBDDs can be reduced in such forms from theoretical point of view. Firstly, we consider a method to solve satisfiability problem of combinational circuits using the structure of circuits as a key to reduce the NOBDD size. We show that the NOBDD size is related to the cutwidth of circuits. Secondly, we analyze methods that use OBDDs to represent Boolean functions as sets of product terms. We show that the class of functions treated feasibly in this representation strictly contains that in OBDDs and contained by that in NOBDDs.