Hybrid FPGA/Multi-core CPUs for Industrial Applications
Robbie Vincke, Arno Messiaen, Jeroen Boydens · Lirias · 2013
The rising demand for high-performing embedded systems made FPGAs ubiquitous. Combining the strengths of an FPGA and a general purpose processor on one chip does not only simplify PCB layout, it also removes the communication bottleneck between processor and FPGA. Moreover, it allows the designer to partition applications and map parts of an application to either programmable logic or processing system. A case study on a voice-over-ethernet system illustrates partitioning by means of the processing requirements. This partitioning is called the Planar Design Pattern. Management of the communication channel is done by one of the processor cores. While high-speed data streaming itself is done in programmable logic.