This paper presents a testable synthesis methodology applicable to any top-
down design method based on hardware;description-language descriptions, or
graphical representations. The methodology is targeted on control-dominated
applications and it is based on the identification and removal of a new cl
ass of redundant faults, called functionally redundant faults. The formal r
elation between functionally redundant faults and sequentially redundant fa
ults is introduced. Moreover, the relation between functionally redundant f
aults and logic synthesis algorithms based on local don't cares is shown. F
unctionally redundant faults are identified and removed by comparing the im
plemented synchronous sequential circuit, which can be technology dependent
, to its specification. The specification can be a single finite state mach
ine (FSM), a set of interacting FSMs, or a hierarchical FSM that allows the
description of highly complex controllers. The proposed methodology produc
es testable circuits, with area reduction, still mapped on the same technol
ogy library, and it manages circuits which cannot be handled by other metho
ds presented in the literature.