(GECO)2: A graphical tool for the generation of configuration bitstreams for a smart sensor interface based on a Coarse-Grained Dynamically Reconfigurable Architecture

An intuitive tool for the elaboration of configuration data for a Coarse-Grained Dynamically Reconfigurable Architecture (CGDRA) is presented in this paper. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows developers who are not familiar with the design or with dynamic reconfiguration, a quick elaboration of an algorithm implementation with the help of function blocksets. The generated configuration data is then uploadable in the core at runtime and can be remotely activated in order to execute the desired functionality. The interface also allows a rapid selection and arrangement of the elements composing the smart sensor interface and an adaptation of the design to a large range of applications. The system architecture is particularly suitable for resource-constrained embedded systems like Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) where it can be used for energy and time-efficient data processing or on-demand hardware acceleration.