Multicontext dynamic reconfiguration and real-time probing on a novel mixed signal programmable device with on-chip microprocessor

Abstract

In this paper we present a novel RAM-based field programmable mixed-signal integrated device consisting of a large granularity Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a set of programmable and interconnectable analog cells, and a microprocessor core. Two configuration contexts are available, at least one of them mapped on the microprocessor memory space. The microprocessor can be used for partial (or complete) fast dynamic reconfiguration, to run general purpose user programs, and to probe in real time internal points of the analog and digital programmable hardware. The device can be partially or totally reconfigured while it is working by loading the new configuration (including initial states for FFs) in the non-active context without stopping operation, then trasferring it to the active one in just one microprocessor write cycle.