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Dynamically ReconfigurableProcessors

Department of Electrical and ComputerEngineering

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Introduction

Classification

Examples

Summary

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Introduction

What is runtime reconfiguration ?

Runtime : Processor is running and executing programs

Reconfigurations : Processor can change its design/instructions

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Introduction

How are Reconfigurable Processors built?Recipe 1

Take Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)

Take a conventional processor Combine both

Through PCI-X,Memory,Co-processor

Interface,..Recipe 2

Use a soft-core Processor on a FPGA

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Introduction : What is a FPGA ?

Hardware to implement one or many logic functions

Logic of functions can be changed after production

Consist of Configurable Logic Blocks

Configuration is loaded with Bit files

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Introduction : Reconfiguration

Special feature of FPGAs (Xilinx : Partial Reconfiguration)

Parts of FPGA can be changed while other parts are computing

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Introduction : A Very SimpleProcessor

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Classification : What Kind ofarchitecture exist ?

Functional Unit based

Different kinds of Fus

ALU, Multiplier,...

No direct memory access

Mostly no internal state

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Classification : Co-processor Based

Co-processor interface used (ARM based)

RAM interface used (x86 based)

Often internal state available

Version:2 Direct memory access

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Classification : Soft/Hardcore based

Hardcore based : Everything till now

Soft-core based : Processor configured onto FPGA

simpler adaption of core

flexible reconfiguration

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Classification : Multicore

many heterogeneous cores

Possible processor cores build out of arepertory of components different processor types(ARM, x86, Mips, . . . )

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Example:Intel Atom+Altera FPGA

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Example : Convey HC1

memory space is shared between host and FPGAs c interface to communicate with application engines FPGA configuration file is loaded dynamically no scheduling of application engines

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Example : Reconfigurable Minimips

RM can be ALU, MUL, F-ALU, F-MUL, Register

compiler support is needed

special reconfiguration instruction

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Summery

FPGAs are used as configurable hardware

different types of runtime reconfigurableprocessors

Functional Unit , Co-processor,Soft-/Hardcore and

Single-/Multicore based

example architectures: Atom/Altera, HC1,miniMips,

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Thank You