ASIC microprocessors

ABSTRACT

ASIC microprocessors are becoming an important technology for the control of complex (“embedded”) systems. The advantage of such microprocessors is that they can be tailored to the application. This tailoring is quite non-intuitive and optimization is a complex process. Tools such as the Architect's Workbench (AWB) have been developed to assist in this optimization. An example study shows a more than two to one advantage of such assisted analysis.

REFERENCES

• 1: Donald Alpert. Memory Hierarchies for Directly Executed Language Microprocessors. PhD thesis, Stanford University, June 1984. CSL-TR-84-260.
• 2: B. Bray, K. Cuderman, M. Flynn, and A. Zimmerman. The Computer Architect's Workbench. September 1989. To appear in Proc. IFIP 11th World Computer Congress '89.
• 3: Edward M. Carter , Robert I. Winner, Transparent microprogramming in support of abstract type oriented dynamic vertical migration, ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter, v.15 n.4, p.165-178, Dec. 1984
• 4: Michael J. Flynn and Lee W. Hoevel. Execution architecture: the DELtran experiment. Transactions on Computers, C-32(2):156-175, February 1983.
• 5: Chad Leland Mitchell, Processor architecture and cache performance, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1986
• 6: Johannes M. Mulder. Tradeoffs in Data-Bugler and Processor-Architecture Design. PhD thesis, Stanford University, December 1987.
• 7: J. Roos, A real-time support processor for ada tasking, ACM SIGARCH Computer Architecture News, v.17 n.2, p.162-171, April 1989
• 8: J. A. Stankovic and T. Weidner. Vertical Migration. In Microprogramming and Firmware Engineering Methods. S. Habib, Ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1988.
• 9: R. I. Winner, Naming and Binding in a Vertical Migration Environment, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, v.14 n.5, p.599-607, May 1988 [doi>10.1109/32.6138]
• 10: R. I. Winner and E. M. Carter. Automated vertical migration to dynamic microcode: an overview and example. IEEE Software, 3(4):6-16, July 1986.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  F. Theory of Computation
  F.1 COMPUTATION BY ABSTRACT DEVICES

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.1 CONTROL STRUCTURES AND MICROPROGRAMMING
      B.1.2 Control Structure Performance Analysis and Design Aids
          Subjects: Formal models**
      B.1.4 Microprogram Design Aids
          Subjects: Languages and compilers

  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.5 COMPUTER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
      C.5.3 Microcomputers
          Subjects: Microprocessors

General Terms:
Performance, Theory