FPGA architecture design and toolset for logic implementation

Abstract

In this paper, the design of an embedded FPGA architecture (i.e. configurable logic blocks) is presented and a complete tool-supported design flow starting from architecture level (i.e. RT-level) and ending with the derivation of the reconfiguration bitstream for the FPGA programming is introduced. The proposed design flow consists of new and modified and extended academic tools. In particular, new tools were developed in order to complement certain critical steps in the implementation flow, since existing academic tools do not combine for a cohesive and complete flow. The remaining design steps are implemented by modified existing academic tools. The FPGA architecture and the tool development is an interactive task, depending on what architectures can be supported by the tools. Using this design support tool set, we designed and simulated in 0.18 TSMC technology an FPGA architecture. More specifically, the detailed design characteristics of the Configurable Logic Block Architecture as well as the interconnect network are determined. Finally, experimental results in terms of energy consumption and delay are given. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.