Transputers-Past, Present, and Future

Q transputer transformation is underway. Exploiting the multiprocessing lnmos Limited potential of the transputer, ESPRIT projects continue to develop higher performance, lower cost parallel processing computers. In advancing the transputer toward general-purpose computing, Inmos Limited is also improving the transputer’s suitability in embedded systems with the upcoming release of new products. The first transputer emerged at a time when very large scale integration (VLSI) technology permitted a combination of a small, fast processor (20,000 transistors) and local memory and communications facilities on silicon. At the same time, the effective exploitation of VLSI technoogy also resulted in the development of reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) processors. Both the transputer and conventional RISC processors reevaluate architecture trade-offs in the context of VLSI capabilities. However, developers of the transputer created a design at the instruction-set level to support multiprocessing across a number of transputers and within a single transputer without the overheads usually associated with complex runtime software. In embedded systems, the transputer application designer directly controls the transputer hardware without the need for a resident operating system or runtime kernel. Applications for transputers include office systems (fax, videophones, laser printers, terminals), digital telecommunications, military systems and handheld satellite navigation systems (see box on sample applications), industrial control systems. and music synthesizers. Initial promotion of the transputer focused on its use as a general-purpose component for special-purpose systems. A number of applications-particularly in graphics and image processing-clearly required high-performance, floating-point operations. Inmos achieved this capability very effectively by adding a floatingpoint unit within the transputer chip (in contrast to the conventional. but more cumbersome, coprocessor approach). This advancement opened up the exciting prospect of constructing parallel processing machines using arrays of transputers to produce supercomputer-level performance. Applications requirements for simulation and modeling (for example, quantum chromodynamics and fluid-flow analysis) provided the incentive to establish the ESPRIT Supernode