MPARM: Exploring the Multi-Processor SoC Design Space with SystemC

Technology is making the integration of a large number of processors on the same silicon die technically feasible. These multi-processor systems-on-chip (MP-SoC) can provide a high degree of flexibility and represent the most efficient architectural solution for supporting multimedia applications, characterized by the request for highly parallel computation. As a consequence, tools for the simulation of these systems are needed for the design stage, with the distinctive requirement of simulation speed, accuracy and capability to support design space exploration. We developed a complete simulation platform for a MP-SoC called MP-ARM, based on SystemC as modelling and simulation environment, and including models for processors, the AMBA bus compliant communication architecture, memory models and support for parallel programming. A fully operating linux version for embedded systems has been ported on this platform, and a cross-toolchain has been developed as well. Our MP simulation environment turns out to be a powerful tool for the MP-SOC design stage. As an example thereof, we use our tool to evaluate the impact on system performance of architectural parameters and of bus arbitration policies, showing that the effectiveness of a particular system configuration strongly depends on the application domain and the generated traffic profile.Luca Benini received the B.S. degree (summa cum laude) in electrical engineering from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 1991, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1994 and 1997, respectively. He is an associate professor in the department of electronics and computer science in the University of Bologna. He also holds visiting researcher positions at Stanford University and the Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA.Dr. Benini’s research interests are in all aspects of computer-aided design of digital circuits, with special emphasis on low-power applications, and in the design of portable systems. He is co-author of the book: Dynamic Power management, Design Techniques and CAD tools, Kluwer 1998.Dr. Benini is a member of the technical program committee for several technical conferences, including the Design Automation Conference, the International Symposium on Low Power Design and the International symposium on Hardware-Software Codesign.Davide Bertozzi received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, in 1999.He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree at the same University and is expected to graduate in 2003. His research interests concern the development of SoC co-simulation platforms, exploration of SoC communication architectures and low power system design.Alessandro Bogliolo received the Laurea degree in electrical engineering and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, in 1992 and 1998.In 1995 and 1996 he was a Visiting Scholar at the Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL), Stanford University, Stanford, CA.From 1999 to 2002 he was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Engineering (DI) of the University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. Since 2002 he’s been with the Information Science and Technology Institute (STI) of the University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy, as Associate Professor. His research interests are mainly in the area of digital integrated circuits and systems, with emphasis on low power and signal integrity.Francesco Menichelli was born in Rome in 1976. He received the Electronic Engineering degree in 2001 at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. From 2002 he is a Ph.D. student in Electronic Engineering at “La Sapienza” University of Rome.His scientific interests focus on low power digital design, and in particular in level tecniques for low power consumption, power modeling and simulation of digital systems.Mauro Olivieri received a Master degree in electronic engineering “cum laude” in 1991 and a Ph.D. degree in electronic and computer engineering in 1994 from the University of Genoa, Italy, where he also worked as an assistant professor. In 1998 he joined the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, where he is currently associate professor in electronics. His research interests are digital system-on-chips and microprocessor core design. Prof. Olivieri supervises several research projects supported by private and public fundings in the field of VLSI system design.     

嵌入式Linux的中断处理技术研究

中断处理技术与嵌入式Linux的实时性能紧密相连。文章分析了Linux通用操作系统的中断处理技术在应用到嵌入式实时环境中的缺点和不足，从中断处理技术方面研究了改善嵌入式实时性的方案，并详细讨论了嵌入式Linux的中断处理机制。     

用CS43L42音频解码器和EP7212嵌入式处理器设计的MP3文件播放系统

介绍了CIRRUSLOGIC公司生产的音频解码芯片CS43L42与嵌入式处理器EP7212的接口实现方法，分析了基于嵌入式处理器EP7212／7312和CS43L42芯片的MP3文件播放系统，给出了由其组成的完整硬件连接图和有效的软件实现方法。     

WaveEPON系统中ONU的设计

介绍了基于PowerPC内核的嵌入式芯片MPC8245和网络交换芯片BCM5615的EPON系统中ONU的设计和应用。     

Determination of primary amino acids in wines by high performance liquid magneto-chromatography

Eight amino acids (ethanolamine, glycine, alanine, β-aminobutyric acid, leucine, methionine, histidine and asparagine) were identified and quantified in Spanish wines by high performance liquid magneto-chromatography (HPLMC) with UV-V spectrophotometry. For this method, the amino acids are first complexed with mono(1,10-phenanthroline)-Cu(II) to confer them paramagnetic properties, and then separated by application of a low magnetic field intensity (5.5 mT) to the stationary phase contained in the chromatographic column. Principal components analysis of the results obtained grouped together the wine samples according to their denomination of origin: “Ribera del Duero”, “Rueda” or “Rioja” (Spain). Through cluster analysis, a series of correlations was also observed among certain amino acids, and between these groupings and the type of wine. These clusters were found to reflect the role played by the amino acids as primary or secondary nutrients for the bacteria involved in alcoholic and malolactic fermentation.     

模式选择阀开度对变循环压缩系统匹配的影响

对双外涵变循环压缩系统进行了建模和全三维数值模拟,分析了模式转换过程中第二外涵道倒流对系统气动性能及部件匹配规律的影响。随着倒流流量的增大,变循环压缩系统的第一外涵道比和总涵道比提高,风扇总压比升高,CDFS与高压压气机的总压比降低。倒流主要影响风扇后面级的气动性能。倒流导致CDFS进口流场发生畸变,CDFS下游第一分流环局部流场严重恶化,应及时调节系统控制参数防止压缩系统失效。     

嵌入式小区集中器网络接口的设计研究

小区集中器是智能小区电力管理信息化的重要环节,它实现了电力管理自上而下和自下而上的信息畅通。小区集中器采用ARMS3C2440为处理器核心,内嵌Linux操作系统为软件开发平台,通过互联网与管理部门上位机通讯。重点研究了小区集中器以太网接口部分,并且通过实验测试小区集中器的网络通讯功能,其结果验证了软硬件设计的正确性。     

基于嵌入式Linux的细胞特征提取算法设计

依据多连通域图像四邻域跟踪原理设计了嵌入式Linux下的细胞特征提取算法.本算法解决了嵌入式下图像处理API封装不够完善以及硬件资源欠缺的问题.实验结果表明,该算法能够比较准确地提取细胞的周长、面积等特征参数.该算法移植至移动嵌入式设备中解决了传统PC机携带不便的难题.     

嵌入式处理器中SDRAM控制器的指令FIFO设计及优化

本文提出了SDRAM预取FIFO的设计，充分利用SDRAM的流水特性，提高无Cache嵌入式处理器性能。通过软件指令静态分析和软件模拟两种分析方法，评估预取逻辑的深度，得到最优化的设计。基于Drystone基准程序的测试表明，本文提出的指令FIFO可以将处理器的性能提高约50％。     

基于PXA255的手持示波器的设计与实现

介绍一个手持式示波器的设计与实现。信号采集卡为独立硬件，负责采集数据，通过网络接口传给开发板，开发板负责数据处理以及用户交互。本项目采用了基于Intel PXA255的开发板，软件平台采用Linux操作系统。由于轻便小巧，其功能可以替代普通示波器，具有手持设备和虚拟仪器的优点。结合实例介绍了使用Qt／Embedded图形库进行软件开发。对基于Linux的嵌入式系统应用开发有很好的借鉴意义。