Application Specific Processors is written for use by engineers who are developing specialized systems (application specific systems). Traditionally, most high performance signal processors have been realized with application specific processors. The explanation is that application specific processors can be tailored to exactly match the (usually very demanding) application requirements. The result is that no processing power' is wasted for unnecessary capabilities and maximum performance is achieved. A disadvantage is that such processors have been expensive to design since each is a unique design that is customized to the specific application. In the last decade, computer-aided design systems have been developed to facilitate the development of application specific integrated circuits. The success of such ASIC CAD systems suggests that it should be possible to streamline the process of application specific processor design. Application Specific Processors consists of eight chapters which provide a mixture of techniques and examples that relate to application specific processing. The inclusion of techniques is expected to suggest additional research and to assist those who are faced with the requirement to implement efficient application specific processors. The examples illustrate the application of the concepts and demonstrate the efficiency that can be achieved via application specific processors. The chapters were written by members and former members of the application specific processing group at the University of Texas at Austin. The first five chapters relate to specific arithmetic which often is the key to achieving high performance in application specific processors. The next two chapters focus on signal processing systems, and the final chapter examines the interconnection of possibly disparate elements to create systems.

Wafer Scale Integration (WSI) is the culmination of the quest for larger integrated circuits. In VLSI chips are developed by fabricating a wafer with hundreds of identical circuits, testing the circuits, dicing the wafer, and packaging the good dice. In contrast in WSI, a wafer is fabricated with several types of circuits (generally referred to as cells), with multiple instances of each cell type, the cells are tested, and good cells are interconnected to realize a system on the wafer. Since most signal lines stay on the wafer, stray capacitance is low, so that high speeds are achieved with low power consumption. For the same technology a WSI implementation may be a factor of five faster, dissipate a factor of ten less power, and require one hundredth to one thousandth the volume. Successful development of WSI involves many overlapping disciplines, ranging from architecture to test design to fabrication (including laser linking and cutting, multiple levels of interconnection, and packaging). This book concentrates on the areas that are unique to WSI and that are as a result not well covered by any of the many books on VLSI design. A unique aspect of WSI is that the finished circuits are so large that there will be defects in some portions of the circuit. Accordingly much attention must be devoted to designing architectures that facilitate fault detection and reconfiguration to of WSI include fabrication circumvent the faults. Other unique aspects technology and packaging.

Wafer Scale Integration (WSI) is the culmination of the quest for larger integrated circuits. In VLSI chips are developed by fabricating a wafer with hundreds of identical circuits, testing the circuits, dicing the wafer, and packaging the good dice. In contrast in WSI, a wafer is fabricated with several types of circuits (generally referred to as cells), with multiple instances of each cell type, the cells are tested, and good cells are interconnected to realize a system on the wafer. Since most signal lines stay on the wafer, stray capacitance is low, so that high speeds are achieved with low power consumption. For the same technology a WSI implementation may be a factor of five faster, dissipate a factor of ten less power, and require one hundredth to one thousandth the volume. Successful development of WSI involves many overlapping disciplines, ranging from architecture to test design to fabrication (including laser linking and cutting, multiple levels of interconnection, and packaging). This book concentrates on the areas that are unique to WSI and that are as a result not well covered by any of the many books on VLSI design. A unique aspect of WSI is that the finished circuits are so large that there will be defects in some portions of the circuit. Accordingly much attention must be devoted to designing architectures that facilitate fault detection and reconfiguration to of WSI include fabrication circumvent the faults. Other unique aspects technology and packaging.

Application Specific Processors is written for use by engineers who are developing specialized systems (application specific systems). Traditionally, most high performance signal processors have been realized with application specific processors. The explanation is that application specific processors can be tailored to exactly match the (usually very demanding) application requirements. The result is that no processing power' is wasted for unnecessary capabilities and maximum performance is achieved. A disadvantage is that such processors have been expensive to design since each is a unique design that is customized to the specific application. In the last decade, computer-aided design systems have been developed to facilitate the development of application specific integrated circuits. The success of such ASIC CAD systems suggests that it should be possible to streamline the process of application specific processor design. Application Specific Processors consists of eight chapters which provide a mixture of techniques and examples that relate to application specific processing. The inclusion of techniques is expected to suggest additional research and to assist those who are faced with the requirement to implement efficient application specific processors. The examples illustrate the application of the concepts and demonstrate the efficiency that can be achieved via application specific processors. The chapters were written by members and former members of the application specific processing group at the University of Texas at Austin. The first five chapters relate to specific arithmetic which often is the key to achieving high performance in application specific processors. The next two chapters focus on signal processing systems, and the final chapter examines the interconnection of possibly disparate elements to create systems.