Rapid prototyping of a RISC architecture for implementation in FPGAs

This paper focuses on the use of a rapid prototyping system to develop a simple RISC microprocessor architecture for implementation in field programmable gate arrays. The rapid prototyping system enables engineers and academic professionals to quickly place new concepts into circuitry, thus bypassing the traditional lengthy design time. The system consists of object-based component libraries, created using a standard hardware-description language, along with simulation tools for visual performance verification. Microprocessors based on this architecture have been implemented in various forms of programmable logic to demonstrate the validity of using the rapid prototyping system to create custom computing machines.