Primitive Computation

Investigators:
Prof Tughrul Arslan, ISLI and University of Edinburgh
Wolfson Microelectronics
Epson Scotland Design Centre

Source: SHEFC 'RDG' Award
Value: £500k

This new research project between ISLI and the University of Edinburgh looks at primitive computation as a paradigm for ultra low-power, high-performance reconfigurable SoC. The project will investigate the development of next generation low-power reconfigurable SoC devices.

The project is based around a design technique developed by Prof Arslan which lends itself to the generation of SoC devices which consist of a heterogeneous array of ‘primitive’ reconfigurable fabric layers. When arranged in a specific manner these could form flexible systems offering increases in speed and reductions relative to conventional reconfigurable SoC devices.

Current solutions for providing programmable or reconfigurable SoC devices have severe restrictions in terms of almost all performance characteristics: speed, area and power. Furthermore, existing solutions are mainly dictated by pre-SoC products which currently exist in the market. Clearly, there is an urgent need for new computing paradigms and architectures for the design of reconfigurable SoC systems, particularly for high performance applications.

Although many groups are currently undertaking research to resolve the issues of flexible microchip systems and reduced power consumption, the approach the Primitive Computation project is taking is the only one of its kind in the world. The research will begin by looking in detail at a number of key application areas before proceeding with systematic research into all stages of the design process. The project will target the development of a new paradigm for the design of reconfigurable SoC systems for high performance applications. Software will generate low power circuits from a high level description of the design. The system will initially be aimed at signal processing algorithms.

This new paradigm, known by the project team as 'primitive computation’, will lead to the development of complete SoC solutions which will provide much higher performance in terms of area, speed and power than solutions currently available in the market.

The reconfigurable SoC device will be used in consumer products such as 3G and 4G mobile phones which have visual capability and require a great deal of power. At the end of the three-year project, the research team expects to have produced demonstration products which will increase the battery life of mobile phones with audio, video and internet functions by at least ten times the current expectancy.

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