Simulation and verification of associative processor arrays

This work is based on the design of a VLSI processor array comprising single bit processing elements combined with Content Addressable Memory (CAM) 1,2]. The processors are connected in a linear array with 64 currently being combined on a chip. Each processor is linked to 64 bits of data CAM and 4 bits of subset CAM (used for marking subsets of the array for subsequent processing). The architecture is targeted at image applications including pixel based processing as well as higher level symbolic manipulation and incorporates a data shift register linking all of the processing elements which allows data loading and processing to occur concurrently.

The current situation is that an extensive functional simulation package has been written 3] which allows algorithms to be coded and executed on a system which comprises an arbitrary number of array chips together with its controlling hardware. This allows algorithms to be investigated, and tuned to the architecture. A reduced design has been fabricated and the chips are undergoing parametric testing. A full version of the processor array chip will then be produced allowing a complete image system to be tested.

The VLSI design work undertaken so far 2] shows that the blocks which constitute the design can easily be replicated an arbitrary number of times (subject to chip size constraints) to create an application specific CAM array. The need for this type of flexibility has been borne out by the algorithmic work that has been carried out by a number of workers. In order to make the design of application specific arrays possible it is vital that the simulation tools are fast enough to allow adequate testing to be performed on the new design. It is for this reason that the original simulation package, written in C, has been transferred onto a transputer array.

This paper looks at the way in which the simulation is mapped onto the transputers in such a way that an arbitrary number can be used. In addition the problems of verification and validation of the simulator and the VLSI design are addressed. Results are given for a number of different applications which show very encouraging speed-ups. In many ways it has been found that the efficiency with which the simulation can be carried out with a large number of transputers mirrors the efficiency of the processor array in terms of communications overhead.