“ eFPGAs : Architectural Explorations , System Integration & a Visionary Industrial

The thesis extensively revolves around embedded FPGAs (eFPGAs). It conducts detailed survey focused on programmable technologies to investigate potentials and challenges of eFPGAs and probable failure reasons of several past attempts of different kinds. Based on the survey knowledge, technology independent soft eFPGAs of FPGA-like mesh-based classical architecture with standard RTL programming flow are investigated. Detailed eFPGA architectural explorations (including CAD tools) are conducted to explore silicon-efficient (logic density, power, performance etc.)eFPGA architectures. Among notable innovations achieved is unified switch block with complete removal of connection block and local interconnect of classical mesh-based FPGAs (VPRlike) while maintaining good routing efficiency. All experiments are conducted on 65nm CMOS low powerSTMicroelectronics process to get practical silicon values and perspectives. Finally eFPGAs in systems (SoCs) potentials and challenges are addressed. A reconfigurable acceleration scenario with ESL exploitation (for programming ease) and full silicon tradeoffs visualization is presented with integration of eFPGA with LEON3 processor (as a functional and co-processor unit, with also highlighting potential flaws of functional unit in industrial perspectives). An interesting case study for perspectives of emerging MRAM memories for eFPGAs is also presented.