Title :
A novel toolset for the development of FPGA-like reconfigurable logic
Author :
Danilin, Alexander ; Bennebroek, Martijn ; Sawitzki, Sergei
Author_Institution :
Philips Res. Labs., Eindhoven, Netherlands
Abstract :
This paper introduces a toolset to develop FPGA-like reconfigurable logic which is optimized towards a specific application domain. Compared to existing multi-domain architectures, domain-optimized reconfigurable logic carry much lower area costs and, therefore, might drive the deployment of embedded FPGA-like cores in integrated circuits. An architectural template has been developed that enables the definition of components with a virtually unmatched flexibility. The toolset provides fast feedback on the effect of architectural changes upon mapping results. Once satisfactory optimized, the architecture can actually be implemented in a selected CMOS process technology and, besides soft- and hard- cores, patterns for manufacturing test are generated. Special attention is given to the developed graphical architecture editor and place-and-route tool. An example is included to demonstrate the toolset usage and the advantages of the flexible component definitions. Here, the routing network of a simple architecture is optimized for a set of functions from the MCNC benchmark set and the result compares favorable to that obtained by VPR.
Keywords :
field programmable gate arrays; logic design; reconfigurable architectures; CMOS process technology; FPGA-like reconfigurable logic; domain-optimized reconfigurable logic; embedded FPGA-like cores; graphical architecture editor; integrated circuits; place-and-route tool; routing network; CMOS process; CMOS technology; Costs; Feedback; Integrated circuit technology; Manufacturing processes; Reconfigurable logic; Routing; Test pattern generators; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Field Programmable Logic and Applications, 2005. International Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-9362-7
DOI :
10.1109/FPL.2005.1515803