Alguns tipos de FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) possuem a capacidade de serem reconfigurados parcialmente em tempo de execução formando um Sistema Parcialmente Reconfigurável (SPR), cuja utilização traz diversas vantagens dentre as quais a redução de custos. A maior utilização de SPRs enfrenta, como um dos fatores limitantes, a dificuldade de acesso e de utilização de ferramentas de desenvolvimento apropriadas. Este trabalho aborda os SPRs, suas aplicações e uma análise das ferramentas de desenvolvimento existentes. posteriormente dedica-se ao aperfeiçoamento de uma dessas ferramentas, o PARBIT, com o desenvolvimento de uma interface gráfica de usuário (GUI, -- Graphical User Interface) e a atualização de sua metodologia de desenvolvimento. As metodologias de projeto suportadas pelo fabricante do FPGA também são apresentadas. As metodologias são validadas através do projeto de um SPR. / Some types of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can be partially reconfigured during run-time forming a Partial Reconfigurable System (PRS). The use of PRSs brings several advantages like cost reduction. A larger use of PRSs faces a limiting factor: the difficult to access and use appropriate development tools. This work shows the PRSs, its applications and an analysis of the existing development tools. Later, it dedicates to the improvement of one of these tools, the PARBIT, developing a graphical user interface (GUI) and updating its project methodology. The project methodologies supported by the manufacturer of the FPGA are also presented. The methodologies are validated through the design of a PRS.

Alguns tipos de FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) possuem a capacidade de serem reconfigurados parcialmente em tempo de execução formando um Sistema Parcialmente Reconfigurável (SPR), cuja utilização traz diversas vantagens dentre as quais a redução de custos. A maior utilização de SPRs enfrenta, como um dos fatores limitantes, a dificuldade de acesso e de utilização de ferramentas de desenvolvimento apropriadas. Este trabalho aborda os SPRs, suas aplicações e uma análise das ferramentas de desenvolvimento existentes. posteriormente dedica-se ao aperfeiçoamento de uma dessas ferramentas, o PARBIT, com o desenvolvimento de uma interface gráfica de usuário (GUI, -- Graphical User Interface) e a atualização de sua metodologia de desenvolvimento. As metodologias de projeto suportadas pelo fabricante do FPGA também são apresentadas. As metodologias são validadas através do projeto de um SPR. / Some types of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can be partially reconfigured during run-time forming a Partial Reconfigurable System (PRS). The use of PRSs brings several advantages like cost reduction. A larger use of PRSs faces a limiting factor: the difficult to access and use appropriate development tools. This work shows the PRSs, its applications and an analysis of the existing development tools. Later, it dedicates to the improvement of one of these tools, the PARBIT, developing a graphical user interface (GUI) and updating its project methodology. The project methodologies supported by the manufacturer of the FPGA are also presented. The methodologies are validated through the design of a PRS.

The large difference between processor CPU cycle time and memory access time, often referred to as the memory wall, severely limits the performance of streaming applications. Some data centers have shown servers being idle three out of four clocks. High performance instruction sequenced systems are not energy efficient. The execute stage of even simple pipeline processors only use 9% of the pipeline's total energy. A hybrid dataflow system within a memory module is shown to have 7.2 times the performance with 368 times better energy efficiency than an Intel Xeon server processor on the analyzed benchmarks. The dataflow implementation exploits the inherent parallelism and pipelining of the application to improve performance without the overhead functions of caching, instruction fetch, instruction decode, instruction scheduling, reorder buffers, and speculative execution used by high performance out-of-order processors. Coarse grain reconfigurable logic in an energy efficient silicon process provides flexibility to implement multiple algorithms in a low energy solution. Integrating the logic within a 3D stacked memory module provides lower latency and higher bandwidth access to memory while operating independently from the host system processor.

This contribution discusses scaling aspects of individually gated nanowire Schottky junctions which are essential parts of reconfigurable field effect transistors (RFETs). The applicability of the screening (or natural) length theory in relation to the carrier transport is discussed first. Various geometrical parameters of the device were investigated to find the optimal structure in terms of performance. For this purpose, electrostatic properties and the dynamic behavior of the RFET were studied. Finally the increase in performance due to an additional substitution of the silicon by germanium is analyzed.

This letter discusses a feasible variant of vertically integrated reconfigurable field effect transistors (RFET) based on top-down nanowires. The structures were studied by 3-D device simulations. Subdividing the structure into two vertical pillars allows a lean technological realization as well as simple access to the electrodes. In addition of enabling p- and n-FET operations like a horizontal RFET, the device delivers higher performance. We show that by the integration of additional vertical pillars and select gates, a higher device functionality and flexibility in interconnection are provided.