Rapid Prototyping of Digital Signal Processing Systems

The paper describes GRAPE-II (Graphical RApid Prototyping Environment), an advanced system level development environment for the specification, compilation, debugging, simulation and emulation of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications. GRAPE-II supports the real-time emulation of synchronous multirate applications on heterogeneous target platforms, consisting of multiple TMS320C40 processors and Xilinx FPGAs. Ports to the Motorola DSP5600x, the Texas Instruments TMS320C80 and the Analog Devices 21060 are foreseen in the near future. GRAPE-II also allows for the simulation and debugging of asynchronous as well as synchronous multi-rate applications on a single Unix workstation, on a Unix workstation cluster, on a Meiko Computing Surface and on a Parsytec Xplorer parallel machine. GRAPE-II is commercialised under the name Virtuoso Synchro by Intelligent Systems International. high, so algorithms should be thoroughly tested and optimized at all design stages before the final implementation. To verify and optimize algorithms, they have to be specified first and their functionality has to be tested completely (functional verification). Then, the optimum signal widths are determined, balancing cost with noise and disturbances (word-length verification). Finally, this optimized algorithm is transformed into an architecture for implementation. During the last step, the compatibility of the implementation with the original algorithm is verified (architectural verification). Nowadays, most verifications are performed by analysis and simulation tools on workstations or superminicomputers. Application prototypes are worked out only during the last design stage. However, if we prototype in the earlier stages of the design, we can Index Terms — Rapid prototyping, digital signal processing, parallel processing, data flow, programming environments. • test more parameters in a shorter time; • verify the application with real-life input signals and true interfaces to the environment. Westall and Ip [West92] indicate that 80% of the ICs do not work in their final system due to interfacing problems;