Soft processor Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Soft processor - Research Paper Example This is important because laymen and some scholars often confuse them with each other in terms of their design and functionality. At the end of this paper, I intend to have achieved two main objectives: examine and discuss all aspects of soft core processors, and show a clear distinction (in terms of design and functionality) between soft core and hard core processors. Key words Core processors, soft core processors, hard core processors Introduction A soft processor is a patented core that is based on the Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) logic primitives (Chu 2012, pg. 31). A hard processor, on the other hand, is a patented core that is based developed from dedicated silicon. In this regard, it is built directly onto non-reconfigurable silicon. A real example of a soft-processor is the Xilinx MicroBlaze processor core. This is a 32-bit processor core that is also a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC). It has the following features: Harvard bus architecture Highly configurabl e cache Exceptional handling capacity and two levels of interruption A standardized core connect bus interface manufactured by IBM 3-stage pipeline Thirty-two registers for general purpose This processor can operate at up to 250MHz based on a Virtex-4 (4VLX40-12) component. Between 1000 and 2700 Xilinx LUTs (Look-Up tables) are required for the implementation of a MicroBlaze soft processor, depending on the manner in which the processor is configured. Background FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) An FPGA is an integrated circuit (IC) that is capable of being programmed to perform any logical function. FPGAs usually have many gates (sometimes even millions) which can be interlinked in any configuration required to resemble a logic circuit. Such interconnections are performed entirely using software. This is done by uploading a modified hardware definition for a logic circuit) to an FPGA. The FPGA will subsequently assume the attributes of that logic unit. The logic unit is defined using a HDL (hardware definition language). An FPGA is made up of a complex matrix/assembly of logic cells (Yiannacouras 2005, pg. 36). The FPGA is a general-purpose component that is full of digital logic building units. The two dominant firms in the FPGA industry are Xilinx and Altera. The most primitive building block used in FPGA is known as an LE (Logic Element) by Altera or an LC (Logic Cell) by Xilinx. In both cases, the building block is made up of an LUT for logical purposes and a flip-flop for purposes of storage. Apart from the LE/LC block, FPGAs also include clock management, multiplication blocks, memory, and input/output (I/O). LE/LC is often used in finding system costs. FPGAs offer hardware designers great flexibility. Although pioneer designers primarily employed FPGAs in debugging and prototyping, most commercial end-products now integrate FPGAs. Designers who use FPGAs are able to develop hardware components or entire systems quickly while still balancing the debu gging and prototyping benefits that FPGAs have over application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designs (Iniewski 2013, pg. 35). Constant increases in FPGA architectural features, performance, and capacity are allowing more designs to be implemented through FPGAs. To further this, FPGAs costs are declining, enabling designers to integrate FPGAs with 1 million similar gates for less than $13.

Evaluate at least three quality improvement processes Research Paper

Evaluate at least three quality improvement processes - Research Paper Example The report therefore compares and contrasts three forms of quality improvement processes and among the discussed process, one favorable for the company is recommended to improve the performance of the company. Introduction The Baldrige criteria for performance excellence, ISO 9000 and the Six Sigma are three quality improvement processes that provide a completely new way of helping organizations improve in their performances. The first process focuses on the estimation of performance excellence of the organization as a whole starting from the management tracking all the results as exhibited by the organization. ISO 9000 on the other hand is a model that gives much weight on the product or the service and how it performs in the market. The inefficiencies of the products or the service are then fixed for better performance (Harrington, 2001). In this category, we have the six sigma; this constantly measures the quality of the product while improving the engineering process to result in to an improvement of the process and saves the costs of the organization. In an effort to know which will be applicable to improving the performance of this company in terms of saving cots and realizing profitability, we have to analyze the three intensively (Dew & Nearing, 2004). a. Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence The Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence as a measure that has helped many organizations achieve their goals is today not only acceptable in the US but also worldwide. This is due to its ability to steer organizations through stiff competitive environment through the improvement of their performances. The criterion cuts across all organizations right from healthcare to education of profit and nonprofit organizations by responding swiftly to current challenges (Brown, 2001). They do this by being open and transparent in the governance of the organizations as well as the ethics involved. The criterion is aimed at creating value for the customers of the business. Irrespective of the form of organization the criteria gives a valuable framework that is able to help in the planning and achieving under any environment. This is because it is able to assess organizational performance on a wide range of key business indicators, align the resources available, and improve communication, productivity and effectiveness for the achievement of the organizational goals (Edosomwan & Edosomwan, 2008). The criterion has evolved over time with its characteristics, goals and purposes remaining the same. The criteria lay its focus on all the results of the performances of the organization for balancing all the strategies of the firm. It does not prescribe and is adaptable hence allowing for creativity and flexibility in the organization to enable achievement of the goals. Supports the systems in place and at the same time supporting goals based diagnosis for future improvements (Brown, 2001). The goals of the criteria are delivery, improvement, organi zational and personal learning. The purpose of the criteria is to allow for its use by organizations of all categories for the sake of self assessment and training so as to develop performance of the businesses. The system is able to realize an achievement of its purpose by stressing on leadership, strategic planning, measurement, and analysis and knowledge management. Others are, focus on the workforce, management of the process and results (Edosomwan & Edo