19 June R1 chip overview R1 micro stepsAim Build a simple portable computer system based on FPGA.
28 June Memory Chip Data sheet
Approach
Given a specification of instruction set, students implement the processor that satisfy the specification. Software tools such as the compiler for the source language and the interpreter are available. The executable file is in the form of "byte-coded" similar to Java byte-code.
To simplify the task, the source language is a small language subset of C, called R1. R1 is a concurrent language. We will ignore the concurrent aspect of the language. The virtual machine specification is a stack based architecture similar to JavaVM but much simpler.
Teaching
We will teach you how to do this assignment step by step. Lecturers will provide the design note at least one week prior to the lab schedule on this page. In the design note, the design outline: the whole structure of the chip and the interface to each module, will be provided as a guideline. Please note that there is no lecture accompanies this class. All the help will be provided in the lab time. Of course, asking and seeking help from the lecturers outside the lab time is entirely encourage!
Resources
All about R1
system, compiler, interpreter, virtual machine specification.
JavaVM
(from Sun micro)
Read about stack computers (text book on-line) (zip file
of the whole book for off-line reading)
My lecture note on stack architecture
R1 chip overview
R1 micro steps
Memory Chip Data Sheet