Journal of Computers, Vol 6, No 11 (2011), 2277-2284, Nov 2011
doi:10.4304/jcp.6.11.2277-2284

A Flexible and Parameterized Architecture for Multicore Microcontroller

Cesar Giacomini Penteado, Sergio Takeo Kofuji, Edward David Moreno

Abstract


This paper presents the concept and preliminary tests in FPGA of a specific architecture for a flexible multicore microcontroller. It is aimed to intermediate complexity embedded applications. A previous exact characterize of the microcontroller model and its target applications is a costly-time task, and it depends mostly on experience of the engineers and programmers. The proposed architecture can aid the development of new applications, for selecting resources during the development phase. We have designed a prototype in FPGA which is working and running applications with up seven CPUs.


Keywords


Multicore; Microcontroller; Embedded; FPGA; soft processor; VHDL

References


Domeika, Max, Software development for embedded multi-core systems : a practical guide using embedded Intel architecture, Editora: Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-7506-8539-9, 420p, 2008.

TMS320C6474 Multicore Digital Signal Processor, Texas Instruments, 2009 Cortex™-A9 MPCore Technical Reference Manual, Revision: r2p0, ARM, 2008-2009.

Martin, Jeff, Propeller Manual, V 1.1, Parallax Inc, ISBN 9-781928-982470, 2009

MPC8569E PowerQUICC III Processor, Freescale, 2009, Disponível em http://www.freescale.com

Penteado, C.G. Moreno, E.D., A Specialized Processor for Emulating Peripherals of the PIC Microcontroller, in Proceedings of the Latin America Transactions, IEEE, 2009, ISSN: 1548-0992 Jani, Yashvant, Combining Vector Control and User Interface/Machine Functions into a Single Microcontroller for White Goods Applications, in Proceedings of the Industry Applications Conference, 2007; ISSN: 0197-2618 Hsiung, S. C., The Use of PIC Microcontrollers in Multiple DC Motors Control Applications, in Proceedings of the Journal of Industrial Technology, Vol 23, 2007 Kondo, H., et al, Design and Implementation of a Configurable Heterogeneous Multicore SoC With Nine CPUs and Two Matrix Processors, in Proceedings of the Journal of Solid-State Circuits, IEEE Vol. 43, nº 4, 2008 Ken Chapman, PicoBlaze, Xilinx technical presentation, http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/s3estarter/files/s3esk_picoblaze_nor_flash_programmer.pdf, 2006 Timothy Wong, LEON3 System-on-Chip Port for BEE2 and ASIC Implementation, Technical Report, http://cadlab.cs.ucla.edu/software_release/bee2leon3port/files/Timothy_Wong-MS_Report.pdf

PicoBlaze 8-bit Embedded Microcontroller User Guide http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/ip_documentation/ug129.pdf


Full Text: PDF


Journal of Computers (JCP, ISSN 1796-203X)

Copyright @ 2006-2012 by ACADEMY PUBLISHER – All rights reserved.