System on a Chip (SoC)

An Overview

Presentation Overview
What is a SoC?
Implementation Options
Design
Advantages
Disadvantages
TigerSHARC
Future of SoCs

Tolapai example

What is a SoC?
Necessary components of a
computer system embedded on a
single silicon die.
SiP System in a Package : multiple
die in a single package.
SoP System on a Package :
multiple layers of discrete
components

A typical SoC will contain:

A processor
Onboard execution memory (SRAM)
Peripheral systems & interfaces
connected to the processing core via a
SoC bus
Many microcontrollers may contain
FLASH memory for program storage

How is a SoC implemented?

ASIC Application Specific IC, very
integrated, yet very expensive
FPGA Cheaper to implement, field
reprogrammable
Programmable Devices Off the
shelf devices, quick to program,
cheap.

SoC Design:
IP hardware blocks and software blocks
developed in parallel
Hardware in CAD
Software in development environment
Emulated and verified on FPGA
Place and Route, created in silicon

SoC Advantages
Decreased power consumption
Increased reliability
Smaller board space
Can be cheaper when using ready to
go components

SoC Disadvantages
Extremely high design cost (for the
actual chip)
Large silicon space may be required
Component testing may be difficult
Prototyping may take longer
Intellectual property (IP) issues

TigerSHARC

TigerSHARC contains several SoC

components:
Execution memory
Processing Core
Peripheral interface:
Link ports
EBIU port
JTAG port
Ext. flags, timers, DMA, etc

Where are SoCs Headed?

More tightly integrates SoCs will
result in smaller electronic products
that use less power, are faster, and
more reliable
Nano scale robots for fighting human
diseases, curing diseases.

Intel Tolapai
The XScale replacement is not a pure
processor, but rather a tightly
integrated SoC
Does away with many supporting
chips (North, South bridges as found
in typical systems)
Aimed at mobile devices market
(PDAs, cell phones, etc)

ADSP-BF561 Dual Core Blackfin SoC

Dallas DS80C Network Microcontroller