A 64-core platform for biomedical signal processing

Abstract

This paper presents a programmable many-core platform containing 64 cores routed in a hierarchical network for biomedical signal processing applications. Individual core processors are based on a RISC architecture with DSP enhancement blocks. Given the number of conditional program loops in DSP applications such as FFT, additional hardware blocks are added that operate in parallel to each core processor. The two blocks calculate the FFT input addresses and determine if a conditional loop is necessary. Performing these operations in parallel to the main processor greatly reduces the time to completion for a DSP application. Each processor is implemented in 65 nm CMOS using standard cell libraries. The 64-core platform occupies 19.51 mm2 and runs at 1.18 GHz at 1 V. For demonstration, Electroencephalogram (EEG) seizure detection and analysis and ultrasound spectral doppler are mapped onto the cores. The seizure detection and analysis algorithm utilizes 60 processors and takes 890 ns to execute. Spectral doppler utilizes 29 processors and takes 715 ns to run.