Research
My research work has been mainly focused on the design and implementation
of next-generation, customizable application-specific embedded processors and systems.
The objective of this work is the definition of novel embedded processor
architectures and embedded systems capable of incorporating and utilizing application knowledge
so as to achieve significant power
and performance improvements, as well as predictable execution times. The basic approach is to identify global
and local application properties during compile/link time and/or through
profiling and exploit them dynamically during program execution by the processor.
The application properties are utilized by a microarchitecturally reprogrammable
hardware, thus maintaining the flexibility and the consequent low design
and verification cost as no new silicon spins or VLSI design reiterations are
required in the face of new application targets or software modifications.
The customization policy consists of the synthesis of reprogrammable hardware,
to be used as a customization vehicle for various micro-architectural features,
such as data/instruction caches, branch resolution logic, on/off-chip memory
communication, etc. The reprogrammable logic includes tables of programmable
registers, a reconfigurable data path and memory cells. This logic aims to
enhance the microprocessor architecture with application-specific properties.
The proposed customization logic is reprogrammable in the sense of loading
a set of registers or tables with specific values for controlling simple
data paths or for defining certain special events for the particular application.
The overall objective of my work is the identification of a comprehensive
set of customization methodologies for achieving low
power, high performance, and predictable execution times in the next
generation embeeded systems and processors. The reprogrammable hardware support, developed for accomodating and exploiting
the application knowledge, defines a unified embedded architecture.
This architecture is capable of recustomization in a post manufacturing fashion,
thus achieving all the flexibility benefits of general purpose systems,
while attaining significant power and performance improvements through the
utilization of application-specific information. For more in-depth technical
information regarding the various low-power and performance boosting customization
techniques that we have developed, please refer to the technical publications page.