DRC2: Dynamically Reconfigurable Computing Circuit based on memory architecture

This paper presents a novel energy-efficient and Dynamically Reconfigurable Computing Circuit (DRC2) concept based on memory architecture for data-intensive (imaging, ...) and secure (cryptography, ...) applications. The proposed computing circuit is based on a 10-Transistor (10T) 3-Port SRAM bitcell array driven by a peripheral circuitry enabling all basic operations that can be traditionally performed by an ALU. As a result, logic and arithmetic operations can be entirely executed within the memory unit leading to a significant reduction in power consumption related to the data transfer between memories and computing units. Moreover, the proposed computing circuit can perform extremely-parallel operations enabling the processing of large volume of data. A test case based on image processing application and using the saturating increment function is analytically modeled to compare conventional and DRC2-based approaches. It is demonstrated that DRC2-based approach provides a reduction of clock cycle number of up to 2x. Finally, potential applications and must-be-considered changes at different design levels are discussed. Keywords—in-memory computing, computing architecture, programmable logic