A reconfigurable system featuring dynamically extensible embedded microprocessor, FPGA, and customizable I/O

Abstract

A system chip targeting image and voice processing and recognition application domains is implemented as a representative of the potential of using programmable logic in system design. It features an embedded reconfigurable processor built by joining a configurable and extensible processor core and an SRAM-based embedded field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Application-specific bus-mapped coprocessors and flexible input/output peripherals and interfaces can also be added and dynamically modified by reconfiguring the embedded FPGA. The architecture of the system is discussed as well as the design flows for pre- and post-silicon design and customization. The silicon area required by the system is 20 mm/sup 2/ in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology. The embedded FPGA accounts for about 40% of the system area.