A two-level reconfigurable architecture for digital signal processing

Abstract

This paper describes a novel reconfigurable architecture for digital signal processing (DSP). This architecture consists of a two-level array of cells and interconnections. On the upper level, fundamental DSP operations such as multiplication and addition are mapped onto blocks of 4-bit cells. On the lower level, each cell uses a 4 × 4 matrix of smaller “elements” to perform the necessary computations. Cells also contain pipeline latches for increased throughput. The architecture features a simple VLSI implementation that combines the flexibility of memory elements with the speed of DOMINO logic. Initial prototypes have been fabricated using a modest 0.5-μm CMOS technology. Circuit simulations of the cell in 0.25-μm technology indicate that the design achieves a clock frequency of 200 MHz.