JPH07175784A - Processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute of the hardware of a processor according to a use by performing the connection between each incorporated function block by the wiring information imparted from the outside. CONSTITUTION:A processor is constituted as a one-chip integration circuit and plural necessary function blocks (a register 1, an arithmetic unit 2, a RAM, an I/O cell 6 and a multiplier 7) are preliminarily built within one chip. Between each function block, bus lines 4 are longitudinally and latitudinally arranged, and the connection between this bus line 4 and each function block or the bus lines 4 is performed programmably by a switching unit 5. The connection of an input/output terminal to be derived to the outside of a chip, each function block and the bus lines 4 is performed through the I/O cell 6, the function of the I/O cell 6 is programmable and the assignment of an input/output can be set. Wiring information is imparted to this processor from the outside and each function block is electrically connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to signal processing, automatic control,
The present invention relates to a processor such as a microprocessor used in image processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The rapid progress of microelectronics has promoted digitization in all fields, and its application fields extend to the processing of voice and image which has been conventionally occupied by analog technology.

Among digital technologies, microprocessors have achieved particularly high performance. The microprocessor programs functions with software. Various different functions can be realized by changing the software on the same hardware. The greatest advantage of this method is versatility. A user can implement any function by writing a program in a language. As long as the algorithm is clear, it is possible to program complicated functions. On the other hand, there is a problem in processing speed depending on the application. In a microprocessor,
It requires a processing step of sequentially reading, decoding, and executing the stored program. This processing step is fundamentally redundant as compared with hardware designed for a specific function, so that the processing speed is increased. The decline is inevitable. In recent years, the processor speed has been remarkably increased, but it has not been able to completely fill the difference with dedicated hardware.

Therefore, recently, a processor having an optimum architecture has been developed according to the application. A typical example is a digital signal processor (DSP).
And adopts an internal structure suitable for digital signal processing. Further, the DSP itself tends to be specialized according to the application field such as image and sound. In other words, it is a design concept that seeks to achieve both versatility and high speed by adopting a dedicated hardware configuration while leaving a certain versatility.

It is considered that the application range of digital processing will be further expanded in the future, and the need for a processor having a hardware structure specific to the application will increase.

[0006]

However, as described above, since the general-purpose processor is not the optimum hardware configuration for the purpose, it is not possible to sufficiently increase the processing speed, and the hardware configuration is changed. There was a problem that was impossible.

On the other hand, if a dedicated processor is used, the processing speed will be high, but there has been a problem that the development and production costs will be high due to the small quantity of various products.

Therefore, suppose that the programmable logic
If there is a processor such as a device (PLD) that allows the user to set the hardware function and internal configuration according to the application, the hardware can be manufactured as a standard product and the production cost can be reduced. It is also easy to modify or change the hardware at the development stage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a processor whose user can program the internal hardware configuration.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a plurality of functional blocks required as a processor, a wiring network running between the respective functional blocks, and the wiring between the wiring networks from the outside. Means for selectively electrically connecting based on the obtained wiring information.

[0011]

The user defines the wiring information in the processor based on the hardware configuration to be realized. This wiring information is externally given to the processor, and the respective functional blocks are electrically connected in accordance with the information, so that the target hardware configuration can be realized.

[0012]

1 shows an embodiment of the processor of the present invention. The processor is configured as a one-chip integrated circuit, and a plurality of functional blocks required as the processor are built in advance in one chip. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1 is a register, 2 is a computing unit, and 3 is a RAM (random access memory). In addition, the processor has a multiplier 7 in order to support the multiply-accumulate operation frequently used in digital signal processing.
Is also built-in. Bus lines 4 are arranged vertically and horizontally between the functional blocks. The connection between the bus line 4 and each functional block or bus line is programmable by the switching unit 5. Further, the connection between the input / output terminals (not shown) led out of the chip and each functional block and the bus line is performed through the I / O cell 6. The function of the I / O cell 6 is programmable, and input / output allocation can be set. In the above processor, the register 1, the arithmetic unit 2, the RAM 3, the I / O cell 6, and the multiplier 7 are functional blocks.

Specifically, the switching unit 5 is constituted by a fuse 10 which is connected to the intersecting portion of the intersecting wirings 8 and 9 and which can be cut off from the outside as shown in FIG. 2, or a flip-flop as shown in FIG. And a pass transistor 12 connected to the memory cell 11. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, wires 8 and 9 are externally applied.
By applying a voltage between them and cutting the fuse 10, the wiring is turned on or off. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the wiring is turned on / off according to the level of data externally applied to the data terminal of the flip-flop forming the memory cell 11.

The configuration shown in FIG. 2 allows the wiring to be set only once, but is advantageous in terms of the signal transmission speed and the degree of integration. On the other hand, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is characterized in that the wiring information can be rewritten any number of times. Such a configuration
It is similar to the internal configuration of a programmable logic device (PLD), except that each block is not a general-purpose combinational logic circuit such as PLD, but a functional block having a specific function.

Although it is possible to configure a simple microprocessor with a PLD, in this case, it is necessary to design from the logic circuit level, and there is a problem that the development period is prolonged and the processing speed is reduced. . On the other hand, in the present embodiment, for example, the functional block of the arithmetic unit is designed exclusively for it from the beginning, which simplifies the design procedure for the user and also makes it possible to increase the processing speed of the functional block itself.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the connection between the built-in functional blocks is performed by the wiring information given from the outside, the following effects can be obtained.

A) The user can configure the hardware of the processor according to the application.

B) It is possible to modify or change the hardware.

C) It can be produced as a standard product and the production cost can be suppressed.

D) The hardware configuration most suitable for the purpose can simplify the entire system such as the peripheral circuit and reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a processor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a switching unit.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary configuration of the switching unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Register, 2 ... Arithmetic unit, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Bus line, 5 ... Switching unit, 6 ... I / O cell, 7 ...
Multiplier, 8, 9 ... Wiring, 10 ... Fuse, 11 ... Storage cell, 12 ... Pass transistor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Seisei Wang 2-9-29 Higashihie, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture Apollo Electronics Co., Ltd. Fukuoka TC Center

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of functional blocks required as a processor, a wiring network running between the respective functional blocks, and wirings of the wiring network are selectively electrically connected based on wiring information given from the outside. A processor comprising means and.