Title :
Application design for configurable computing
Author :
Mangione-Smith, William H.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., California Univ., Los Angeles, CA, USA
fDate :
10/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Configurable computing systems enhance traditional computing systems through the addition of programmable hardware. Configurable computing offers the opportunity to change the partition at run-time by re-programming the hardware. Recent research has shifted to CAD and application development tools. Almost all existing configurable computing systems are based on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). These devices implement reasonably arbitrary digital circuits, and the flexibility allows us to think of configurable computing systems based on FPGAs as netlist computers. The configurable computing approach integrates FPGAs as an intimate and fundamental component of the computing system, rather than relegating them to their earlier role of supporting system prototyping and low-volume production. However, the author believes that automated approaches to the design of configurable computing systems are premature because they do not pay enough attention to performance
Keywords :
CAD; PLD programming; field programmable gate arrays; firmware; reconfigurable architectures; CAD; FPGA; application design; application development tools; arbitrary digital circuits; configurable computing systems; field-programmable gate arrays; hardware reprogramming; integrated engineering; low-volume production; netlist computers; performance; programmable hardware; run-time partition changing; system prototyping; Application software; Application specific integrated circuits; Costs; Design engineering; Graphics; Hardware; Optimizing compilers; Rendering (computer graphics); Runtime; Software tools;