Interface Module for Logic Circuit Blocks Reducing Interrupt Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital logic circuits, the high interrupt load and need for software polling in hardware blocks can lead to performance issues, particularly in real-time systems, due to the complexity of programming hardware entities at the correct time, resulting in over-dimensioning of hardware and software entities to meet real-time constraints.
Innovation Solution
An interface module for logic circuit blocks that includes a control interface, data interface, and interface logic block, allowing for flexible reconfiguration and reduced interrupt intensity by preloading configuration parameters from a data storage device and initiating processing without software involvement, enabling seamless communication and execution between hardware blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software is used to configure and control hardware blocks, then the system is flexible and reconfigurable, but the interrupt load increases and real-time performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into software-configurable components and hardware-autonomous execution components. The interface module segments the control function, allowing software to set high-level parameters while hardware handles real-time execution autonomously, reducing interrupt load and improving real-time performance while maintaining reconfigurability.
Solution Approach 2:
An interface module acts as an intermediary between software and hardware blocks. It translates software configuration parameters into hardware control signals and manages data transfer, enabling flexible reconfiguration without requiring continuous software intervention during execution, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and real-time performance.
2Reliability
If software polling is used to monitor hardware block status, then the system can track execution state, but the interrupt load and software complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Hardware blocks perform self-service by autonomously monitoring their own execution status and managing their own control signals. The interface module enables hardware to self-report completion status without software polling, reducing software complexity while maintaining reliable status tracking through hardware-based status flags and interrupt mechanisms.
3Productivity
If hardware entities are over-dimensioned to meet real-time constraints, then real-time performance is ensured, but power consumption and resource utilization increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic resource allocation where hardware blocks are activated only when needed based on software-configured parameters. The interface module enables on-demand execution of hardware blocks, allowing the system to meet real-time constraints by activating only necessary resources rather than maintaining all resources in an over-dimensioned static configuration, thus reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface module for a logic circuit block comprising a processing module, the interface module comprising a control interface for communicating one or more control messages; a data interface for accessing a data storage device; an interface logic block; and a core interface to the processing module, the core interface being connected to the interface logic block for communicating signals between the interface logic block and the processing module. The interface logic block is adapted to receive one or more incoming control message via the control interface; process the one or more control messages including accessing a data storage device via the data interface, initiating processing by the processing module via the core interface, receiving one or more signals from the processing module via the core interface; and to output one or more outgoing control message via the control interface.