An SoC design methodology using FPGAs and embedded microprocessors

Abstract

In System on Chip (SoC) design, growing design complexity has forced designers to start designs at higher abstraction levels. This paper proposes an SoC design methodology that makes full use of FPGA capabilities. Design modules in different abstraction levels are all combined and run together in an FPGA prototyping system that fully emulates the target SoC. The higher abstraction level design modules run on microprocessors embedded in the FPGAs, while lower-level synthesizable RTL design modules are directly mapped onto FPGA reconfigurable cells. We made a hardware wrapper that gets the embedded microprocessors to interface with the fully synthesized modules through IBM CoreConnect buses. Using this methodology, we developed an image processor SoC with cryptographic functions, and we verified the design by running real firmware and application programs. For the designs that are too large to be fit into an FPGA, dynamic reconfiguration method is used.

Leveraging reconfigurability in the hardware/software codesign process

“…For example, Lysaght et al [2006] design methodologies and CAD tools directed at FPGA designs that utilize dynamic partial reconfiguration. Ohba and Takano [2004] presented an SoC design methodology for FPGAs and embedded microprocessors that utilizes different abstraction levels for specification and prototyping to reduce design complexity.…”

Constructivist Multi-Access Lab Approach in Teaching FPGA Systems Design with LabVIEW

“…Embedded FPGA systems have emerged rapidly during the last decade from expensive and complicated products, dedicated mainly for military and space applications, to modest cost products that are used in wide range of commercial applications [7][8][9]. Nowadays, embedded FPGA systems are the first, and mainly the only available, choice for products that need rapid signal processing and computing such as video graphics and video encoders [10,11].…”

“…FPGA chips have grown in logic capacity while maintaining affordable cost for many applications [12]. It is evident that FPGAs are becoming popular for designating the most of embedded systems [13,14]. FPGA is a mature technology for the implementation of digital systems [15][16][17].…”

Multiple Scenario Approach for Pre-Silicon Hardware/Software Co-Verification

“…[10], [12], [33]. The best performance regarding simulation speed is achieved using software based simulations, usually written in general-purpose programming languages (such as C/C++).…”