The main characteristic of Reconfigurable Computing is the presence of hardware that can be reconfigured to implement specific functionality more suitable for specially tailored hardware than on a simple uniprocessor. Reconfigurable computing systems join microprocessors and programmable hardware in order to take advantage of the combined strengths of hardware and software and have been used in applications ranging from embedded systems to high performance computing. Many of the fundamental theories have been identified and used by the Hardware/Software Co-Design research field. Although the same background ideas are shared in both areas, they have different goals and use different approaches.This book is intended as an introduction to the entire range of issues important to reconfigurable computing, using FPGAs as the context, or "computing vehicles" to implement this powerful technology. It will take a reader with a background in the basics of digital design and software programming and provide them with the knowledge needed to be an effective designer or researcher in this rapidly evolving field.

· Treatment of FPGAs as computing vehicles rather than glue-logic or ASIC substitutes
· Views of FPGA programming beyond Verilog/VHDL
· Broad set of case studies demonstrating how to use FPGAs in novel and efficient ways

Reconfigurable Computing: The Theory and Practice of FPGA-Based Computation

The evolution of CORDIC, an iterative arithmetic computing algorithm capable of evaluating various elementary functions using a unified shift-and-add approach, and of CORDIC processors is reviewed. A method to utilize a CORDIC processor array to implement digital signal processing algorithms is presented. The approach is to reformulate existing DSP algorithms so that they are suitable for implementation with an array performing circular or hyperbolic rotation operations. Three categories of algorithm are surveyed: linear transformations, digital filters, and matrix-based DSP algorithms. >

CORDIC-based VLSI architectures for digital signal processing

Proposes two redundant CORDIC (coordinate rotation digital computer) methods with a constant scale factor for sine and cosine computation, called the double rotation method and the correcting rotation method. In both methods, the CORDIC is accelerated by the use of a redundant binary number representation, as in the previously proposed redundant CORDIC. In the proposed methods, since the number of rotation-extensions performed for each angle is a constant, the scale factor is a constant independent of the operand. Hence, one does not need to calculate the scale factor during the computation, and can make a more efficient sine and cosine generator than that based on the previous redundant CORDIC. >

Redundant CORDIC methods with a constant scale factor for sine and cosine computation

A detailed analysis of the quantization error encountered in the CORDIC (coordinate rotation digital computer) algorithm is presented. Two types of quantization error are examined: an approximation error due to the quantized representation of rotation angles, and a rounding error due to the finite precision representation in both fixed-point and floating-point arithmetic. Tight error bounds for these two types of error are derived. The rounding error due to a scaling (normalization) operation in the CORDIC algorithm is also discussed. An expression for overall quantization error is derived, and several simulation examples are presented. >

The quantization effects of the CORDIC algorithm

CORDIC arithmetic for an SVD processor

A monolithic processor computes products, quotients, and several common transcendental functions. The algorithms are based on the well-known principles of "CORDIC," but recourse to a subtle novel corollary results in a scale factor of unity. Compared to older machines, the overhead burden is significantly reduced. Also, expansion of the functional repertoire beyond the circular domain, i.e., addition to the menu of hyperbolic and linear operations, is a relatively trivial matter, in terms of both hardware cost and execution time. A bulk CMOS technology with conservative layout rules is used for the sake of high reliability, low-power consumption, and good cycle speed.

Haviland

Papers

A Cordic Arithmetic Processor Chip