DISC: the dynamic instruction set computer

Michael J. Wirthlin; Brad L. Hutchings

doi:10.1117/12.221328

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19 September 1995 DISC: the dynamic instruction set computer

Michael J. Wirthlin; Brad L. Hutchings

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Proceedings Volume 2607, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for Fast Board Development and Reconfigurable Computing; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.221328
Event: Photonics East '95, 1995, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract

A dynamic instruction set computer (DISC) has been developed to support demand-driven instruction set modification. Using partial reconfiguration, DISC pages instruction modules in and out of an FPGA as demanded by the executing program. Instructions occupy FPGA resources only when needed and FPGA resources can be reused to implement an arbitrary number of performance-enhancing application-specific instructions. DISC further enhances the functional density of FPGAs by physically relocating instruction modules to available FPGA space. An image processing application was developed on DISC to demonstrate the advanteges of paging application-specific instruction modules.

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Michael J. Wirthlin and Brad L. Hutchings "DISC: the dynamic instruction set computer", Proc. SPIE 2607, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for Fast Board Development and Reconfigurable Computing, (19 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.221328

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