ASPRO: an asynchronous 16-bit RISC microprocessor with DSP capabilities
Résumé
This paper describes a CMOS standard-cell quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) 16-bit asynchronous microprocessor. ASPRO is a scalar microprocessor which issues instructions in-order and completes their execution out-of-order. Designed for embedded applications, it can be customized both at the hardware and software levels to fit specific application requirements. To demonstrate this feature, the prototype includes a multiplier-accumulator unit. Fabricated using the STMicroelectronics 0.25 mu m, 5-metal layer CMOS technology, ASPRO was found to be functional at first silicon, and runs at 140 peak MIPS. This project demonstrates that the methodology and the asynchronous logic are mature for the design of complex and fast fully asynchronous circuits.