9.2 Reconfigurable computing and FPGAs
3 min read•august 13, 2024
Reconfigurable computing lets us tweak hardware after it's made, giving us flexibility and power efficiency. It's like having a shape-shifting computer that adapts to what we need. This is super useful for tasks that need speed and efficiency.
FPGAs are the stars of this show. They're like digital Lego sets, with blocks we can rearrange to create custom circuits. We program them using special languages, making them perfect for tasks ranging from signal processing to AI.
Reconfigurable Computing
Definition and Advantages
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- Reconfigurable computing utilizes hardware that can be reconfigured or reprogrammed post-fabrication to perform specific tasks or functions
- Offers flexibility by allowing the hardware to be adapted to the specific requirements of a given application or algorithm
- Advantages include:
- Improved performance compared to software implementations on general-purpose processors (hardware optimization for specific tasks)
- Energy efficiency (tailored hardware minimizes power consumption for a given application)
- Adaptability to changing requirements or standards (hardware can be reconfigured to accommodate updates or modifications)
- Reduced time-to-market and development costs compared to custom ASIC designs (reconfigurable hardware can be quickly modified and iterated upon)
FPGA Architecture and Components
Basic Building Blocks
- Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are the most common type of reconfigurable hardware
- Consist of an array of programmable , , and input/output (I/O) blocks
- Programmable logic blocks, also known as configurable logic blocks (CLBs), contain:
- Look-up tables (LUTs) for implementing combinational logic functions
- Flip-flops for sequential logic and storage elements
- Multiplexers for selecting and routing signals
- Programmable interconnects allow the logic blocks to be connected together to form complex digital circuits (configured to create the desired routing between elements)
Specialized Components
- I/O blocks provide an interface between the FPGA and external devices (support various signaling standards and protocols)
- Modern FPGAs also include specialized components:
- Embedded memory blocks (Block RAMs) for on-chip data storage
- blocks optimized for signal processing applications (filtering, FFT, MAC operations)
- High-speed serial transceivers for efficient communication with external devices (PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes)
- Embedded processors (ARM cores) for software-based control and management tasks
Programming FPGAs
Hardware Description Languages (HDLs)
- FPGA development typically involves describing the desired hardware functionality using HDLs such as VHDL or Verilog
- HDLs allow designers to describe the structure and behavior of digital circuits at various levels of abstraction:
- Gate-level descriptions (specifying individual logic gates and their connections)
- Register-transfer level (RTL) descriptions (defining the flow of data between registers and the logical operations performed on them)
- Algorithmic descriptions (using high-level constructs like loops and conditionals to describe the desired functionality)
High-Level Synthesis (HLS) and Development Tools
- High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tools enable the use of high-level programming languages like C, C++, or OpenCL to describe hardware functionality
- Examples: Vivado HLS, Intel OpenCL
- HLS tools automatically generate HDL code from the high-level descriptions (facilitates faster development and easier integration with software components)
- FPGA vendors provide Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) that include tools for:
- Design entry (schematic capture, HDL editors)
- Simulation (functional and timing simulation)
- Synthesis (converting HDL or HLS descriptions into a netlist)
- Implementation (mapping the netlist onto the FPGA's physical resources and generating the bitstream)
- Examples: Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus Prime
Applications for Reconfigurable Computing
Characteristics of Suitable Applications
- Reconfigurable computing is well-suited for applications with the following characteristics:
- Computationally intensive tasks that can benefit from hardware acceleration
- Algorithms with inherent parallelism that can be exploited by the FPGA's architecture
- Applications requiring low and high (real-time signal processing, high-frequency trading)
- Systems with evolving requirements or standards that may necessitate hardware updates or modifications
Application Domains
- Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and image processing (radar, sonar, medical imaging)
- Cryptography and security (encryption, decryption, secure communication protocols)
- Networking and telecommunications (packet processing, network virtualization, software-defined radio)
- High-performance computing and scientific simulations (molecular dynamics, finite element analysis)
- Automotive and aerospace systems (sensor fusion, computer vision, control systems)
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence (accelerating inference and training tasks)
Key Terms to Review (18)
Altera: Altera is a company known for designing and manufacturing Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which are integrated circuits that can be programmed after manufacturing to carry out specific tasks. Altera's FPGAs enable reconfigurable computing, allowing users to customize hardware functionality for various applications, from telecommunications to automotive systems. This flexibility and adaptability make Altera FPGAs popular in industries that require high performance and quick turnaround times in hardware design.
ASIC vs. FPGA: ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) and FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) are both types of integrated circuits, but they serve different purposes. ASICs are custom-designed for a specific application, which makes them efficient and fast, while FPGAs are reconfigurable devices that can be programmed to perform various tasks after manufacturing, allowing flexibility and adaptability in design.
Digital signal processing (DSP): Digital signal processing (DSP) is a method used to manipulate digital signals to improve their accuracy and reliability or extract useful information. It involves the use of algorithms and mathematical techniques to perform operations like filtering, compression, and modulation on digital data, making it essential for a wide range of applications including audio, video, and communications. DSP is often implemented in specialized hardware such as FPGAs, which allow for flexible and efficient processing tailored to specific tasks.
Dynamic reconfiguration: Dynamic reconfiguration refers to the ability of a computing system, particularly those utilizing FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), to change its configuration or functionality on-the-fly without needing to power down or interrupt its operation. This allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in processing tasks as it can adjust its hardware setup to meet varying computational demands in real time.
Embedded systems: Embedded systems are specialized computing systems that are designed to perform dedicated functions within larger mechanical or electrical systems. They are often integrated into devices, controlling specific tasks or processes, and are characterized by their real-time computing capabilities, efficiency, and reliability. These systems can be found in a wide range of applications, from household appliances to industrial machines and automotive electronics.
Field-programmable gate array (FPGA): A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit that can be programmed or reconfigured by the user after manufacturing, allowing for custom hardware solutions. This flexibility enables designers to create specialized circuits for specific tasks, making FPGAs ideal for applications in digital signal processing, telecommunications, and embedded systems.
Hardware description language (HDL): A hardware description language (HDL) is a specialized programming language used to model and describe the structure, design, and behavior of electronic systems, particularly in the context of digital circuits. HDLs enable designers to create abstract representations of hardware, facilitating simulation and synthesis for implementation on physical devices like FPGAs. This capability is crucial in reconfigurable computing, allowing for dynamic hardware modifications and optimizations.
Interconnects: Interconnects refer to the various pathways and components that facilitate communication between different elements within a computing system, including processors, memory, and I/O devices. They play a critical role in determining the performance and efficiency of reconfigurable computing architectures, especially in systems like FPGAs, where flexible connections allow for dynamic reconfiguration based on application needs.
Latency: Latency refers to the time delay between a request for data and the delivery of that data. In computing, it plays a crucial role across various components and processes, affecting system performance and user experience. Understanding latency is essential for optimizing performance in memory access, I/O operations, and processing tasks within different architectures.
Logic blocks: Logic blocks are fundamental components in reconfigurable computing devices, particularly in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). They serve as the building blocks that can be configured to implement various logical functions, allowing for custom hardware designs that can be modified as needed. The flexibility and programmability of logic blocks enable them to adapt to different applications, making FPGAs powerful tools in digital design.
Partial Reconfiguration: Partial reconfiguration refers to the ability to dynamically change a portion of an FPGA's configuration while the rest of the device continues to operate without interruption. This feature allows for more efficient resource utilization and flexibility in adapting to changing computational requirements, enabling designers to load different hardware functionalities on-the-fly.
Place and route: Place and route is a crucial step in the design process of integrated circuits, particularly in FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), where it refers to the techniques used to position components within a chip and establish the connections between them. This process optimizes the layout of the circuit to minimize delays, power consumption, and area while ensuring that the design meets the necessary timing constraints. Effective place and route strategies can significantly enhance performance and resource utilization in reconfigurable computing systems.
Programmable logic device (PLD): A programmable logic device (PLD) is an integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specific logical functions and tasks, allowing for customizable digital logic designs. PLDs provide flexibility in hardware design by enabling users to create their own logic circuits without needing to fabricate new chips, making them essential in reconfigurable computing and applications like FPGAs. This programmability leads to efficient use of resources and quicker iterations in the design process.
Soft vs. Hard IP: Soft IP (Intellectual Property) refers to design components described in high-level programming languages that can be synthesized into hardware, while Hard IP is pre-designed, fixed-function hardware blocks that are implemented as physical layouts in silicon. Soft IP offers flexibility and adaptability for developers, allowing them to modify designs easily, whereas Hard IP provides optimized performance and reliability as it is already tested and integrated into a specific technology node.
Spatial and Temporal Partitioning: Spatial and temporal partitioning refers to techniques used in computing to manage resources by dividing them into separate segments based on space (location) and time (duration). These methods are particularly important in systems that require reconfigurable computing, allowing for more efficient use of hardware resources like FPGAs by assigning different tasks to specific regions or times.
Synthesizable code: Synthesizable code refers to a subset of hardware description language (HDL) code that can be transformed into a physical electronic circuit through synthesis tools. This code is designed to describe the desired hardware behavior in a way that can be mapped to the resources available on devices like FPGAs, ensuring that it adheres to the limitations and capabilities of actual hardware implementations.
Throughput: Throughput refers to the amount of work or data processed in a given amount of time, often measured in operations per second or data transferred per second. It is a crucial metric in evaluating the performance and efficiency of various computer systems, including architectures, memory, and processing units.
Xilinx: Xilinx is a leading manufacturer of programmable logic devices, particularly known for its field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). These devices allow engineers to configure and customize hardware solutions for various applications, making Xilinx a key player in the realm of reconfigurable computing.