Processor-Core Based Design and Test

Abstract

This tutorial responds to the rapidly increasing use of various cores for implementing systems-on-a-chip. It specifically focusses on processor cores. We will give some examples of cores, including DSP cores and application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs). We will mention market trends for these components, and we will touch design procedures, in particular the use compilers. Finally, we will discuss the problem of testing core-based designs. Existing solutions include boundary scan, embedded in-circuit emulation (ICE), the use of processor resources for stimuli/response compaction and self-test programs.