A Restructurable Integrated Circuit for Implementing Programmable Digital Systems

Abstract

The Restructurable Integrated Circuit, a highly flexible and programmable multimicrocomputer is presented. The goal of this integrated circuit is to apply the large number of gates that are available on a custom designed VLSI IC to the design of a highly flexible integrated circuit . The main application of the Restructurable Integrated Circuit (RIC) will be the implementation of digital system hardware through programmation of a RIC. The flexibility provided within the RIC includes: user definable micro language, user programmable assembly language, user programmable microcode, dynamic coordination of multiple internal processors, coordination of processors on multiple RICs, internal memory use as caches or as a member of a virtual memory hierarchy, qeneral topology for interchip communication and external data paths, and a user definable interrupt mechanism. By providing this high degree of flexibility, the cost and reliability advantages of high volume production can be accrued, while providing performance comparable to a custom VLSI IC.