System design using ASIPs

Abstract

This paper describes our current research in the field of systems design, trying to reach an Application Specific System Integration (ASIS). We try to go beyond circuit integration to reach systems integration, using Application Specific Processors (ASIPs) with different architectures. Our target system is based on industry applications. In this paper we show the environment that allows the fine tuning of RISC processors to specific applications, and the migration of a CISC microcontroller to an ASIP architecture. The studied examples show meaningful gains regarding the total area of the processor for each approach. This free space can be used to integrate other parts of the whole system.