High performance I/O processors for real-time pulse handling

Two peripheral processor LSIs, the FTI (fast timed input port) and the FTO (fast timed output port), have been developed for real-time pulse handling. By using the time-wheel scheme, these processors provide a high-level command interface with the host CPU, thus alleviating the CPU load. New features, such as time difference measurement between channels and user reprogrammability during operation have been realized using this approach. The prototypes of both FTI and FTO were designed and fabricated using a 1.5- mu m CMOS sea-of-gates technology, and demonstrated the effectiveness of the time-wheel scheme.<
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