Low latency digit-recurrence reciprocal and square-root reciprocal algorithm and architecture

The reciprocal and square root reciprocal operations are important in several applications such as computer graphics and scientific computation. For the two operations, an algorithm that combines a digit-by-digit module and one iteration of the Newton-Raphson approximation is used. The latter is implemented by a digit-recurrence, which uses the digits produced by the digit-by-digit part. In this way, both parts execute in an overlapped manner, so that the total number of cycles is about half of the number that would be required by the digit-by-digit part alone. Since the approximation does not produce correct rounding in a few cases, for applications where exact rounding is required, the result is only computed by the digit-by-digit module. Radix-4 implementations for combined unit are described. The result of the evaluation shows that the cycle time is the same as that of the digit-by-digit unit and that, as a consequence, the execution time is almost halved. Because of the approximation part, the area almost doubles of the digit-by-digit area. In this Dissertation, an implementation algorithm and architecture for low latency digit recurrence reciprocal and squareroot reciprocal has been presented. The implementation is based on Radix-4, considering execution time and system complexity. This project aims to provide modules written in the Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) that can be used to model low latency digit recurrence reciprocal and square root reciprocal architecture

Composite Iterative Algorithm and Architecture for q-th Root Calculation

An algorithm for the q-th root extraction, being q any integer, is presented in this paper. The algorithm is based on an optimized implementation of X^{1/q} by a sequence of parallel and/or overlapped operations: (1) reciprocal, (2) digit-recurrence logarithm, (3) left-to-right carry-free multiplication and (4) on-line exponential. A detailed error analysis and two architectures are proposed, for low precision q and for higher precision q. The execution time and hardware requirements are estimated for single and double precision floating-point computations for several radices; this helps to determine which radices result in the most efficient implementations. The architectures proposed improve the features of other architectures for q-th root extraction.Dans cet article, nous présentons un algorithme matériel pour l'extraction de la racine q-ième d'un nombre X, où q est un entier naturel non nul. Cet algorithme est basé sur une implantation optimisée de la fonction X^{1/q} par une séquence d'opérations parallèles et/ou superposées: (1) réciproque, (2) logarithme chiffre par chiffre, (3) multiplication de gauche-à-droite sans propagation de retenue et (4) exponentielle en ligne. Une analyse détaillée des erreurs et deux architectures sont proposées, pour q de basse précision et pour q de précision plus haute. Le temps d'exécution et les composants matériels à utiliser sont estimés pour des calculs en virgule flottante simple et double précision et pour plusieurs bases. Cette étude aide à déterminer quelles bases mènent aux implantations les plus efficaces. Les architectures proposées améliorent les caractéristiques d'architectures précédentes destinées à l'extraction des racines

Algorithms and architectures for decimal transcendental function computation

Nowadays, there are many commercial demands for decimal floating-point (DFP) arithmetic operations such as financial analysis, tax calculation, currency conversion, Internet based applications, and e-commerce. This trend gives rise to further development on DFP arithmetic units which can perform accurate computations with exact decimal operands. Due to the significance of DFP arithmetic, the IEEE 754-2008 standard for floating-point arithmetic includes it in its specifications. The basic decimal arithmetic unit, such as decimal adder, subtracter, multiplier, divider or square-root unit, as a main part of a decimal microprocessor, is attracting more and more researchers' attentions. Recently, the decimal-encoded formats and DFP arithmetic units have been implemented in IBM's system z900, POWER6, and z10 microprocessors. Increasing chip densities and transistor count provide more room for designers to add more essential functions on application domains into upcoming microprocessors. Decimal transcendental functions, such as DFP logarithm, antilogarithm, exponential, reciprocal and trigonometric, etc, as useful arithmetic operations in many areas of science and engineering, has been specified as the recommended arithmetic in the IEEE 754-2008 standard. Thus, virtually all the computing systems that are compliant with the IEEE 754-2008 standard could include a DFP mathematical library providing transcendental function computation. Based on the development of basic decimal arithmetic units, more complex DFP transcendental arithmetic will be the next building blocks in microprocessors. In this dissertation, we researched and developed several new decimal algorithms and architectures for the DFP transcendental function computation. These designs are composed of several different methods: 1) the decimal transcendental function computation based on the table-based first-order polynomial approximation method; 2) DFP logarithmic and antilogarithmic converters based on the decimal digit-recurrence algorithm with selection by rounding; 3) a decimal reciprocal unit using the efficient table look-up based on Newton-Raphson iterations; and 4) a first radix-100 division unit based on the non-restoring algorithm with pre-scaling method. Most decimal algorithms and architectures for the DFP transcendental function computation developed in this dissertation have been the first attempt to analyze and implement the DFP transcendental arithmetic in order to achieve faithful results of DFP operands, specified in IEEE 754-2008. To help researchers evaluate the hardware performance of DFP transcendental arithmetic units, the proposed architectures based on the different methods are modeled, verified and synthesized using FPGAs or with CMOS standard cells libraries in ASIC. Some of implementation results are compared with those of the binary radix-16 logarithmic and exponential converters; recent developed high performance decimal CORDIC based architecture; and Intel's DFP transcendental function computation software library. The comparison results show that the proposed architectures have significant speed-up in contrast to the above designs in terms of the latency. The algorithms and architectures developed in this dissertation provide a useful starting point for future hardware-oriented DFP transcendental function computation researches

High sample-rate Givens rotations for recursive least squares

The design of an application-specific integrated circuit of a parallel array processor is considered for recursive least squares by QR decomposition using Givens rotations, applicable in adaptive filtering and beamforming applications. Emphasis is on high sample-rate operation, which, for this recursive algorithm, means that the time to perform arithmetic operations is critical. The algorithm, architecture and arithmetic are considered in a single integrated design procedure to achieve optimum results. A realisation approach using standard arithmetic operators, add, multiply and divide is adopted. The design of high-throughput operators with low delay is addressed for fixed- and floating-point number formats, and the application of redundant arithmetic considered. New redundant multiplier architectures are presented enabling reductions in area of up to 25%, whilst maintaining low delay. A technique is presented enabling the use of a conventional tree multiplier in recursive applications, allowing savings in area and delay. Two new divider architectures are presented showing benefits compared with the radix-2 modified SRT algorithm. Givens rotation algorithms are examined to determine their suitability for VLSI implementation. A novel algorithm, based on the Squared Givens Rotation (SGR) algorithm, is developed enabling the sample-rate to be increased by a factor of approximately 6 and offering area reductions up to a factor of 2 over previous approaches. An estimated sample-rate of 136 MHz could be achieved using a standard cell approach and O.35pm CMOS technology. The enhanced SGR algorithm has been compared with a CORDIC approach and shown to benefit by a factor of 3 in area and over 11 in sample-rate. When compared with a recent implementation on a parallel array of general purpose (GP) DSP chips, it is estimated that a single application specific chip could offer up to 1,500 times the computation obtained from a single OP DSP chip

FPGA Implementation of Floating Point Reciprocator Using Binomial Expansion Method

Floating-point support has become a mandatory feature of new micro processors due to the prevalence of business, technical, and recreational applications that use these operations.  In these operations Floating-point division is generally regarded as a low frequency, high latency operation in typical floating-point applications. So due to this not much development had taken place in this field. But nowadays floating point divider has become indispensable and increasingly important in many scientific and signal processing applications.In this paper we implement floating point reciprocator for both single precision and double precision floating point numbers using FPGA. Here the implementation is based on the binomial expansion method. By comparing with previous works the modules occupy less area with a higher performance and less latency. The designs trade off either 1 unit in last-place (ulp) or 2 ulp of accuracy (for double or single precision respectively), without rounding, to obtain a better implementation

On digit-recurrence division algorithms for self-timed circuits

The optimization of algorithms for self-timed or asynchronous circuits requires specific solutions. Due to the variable-time capabilities of asynchronous circuits, the average computation time should be optimized and not only the worst case of the signal propagation. If efficient algorithms and implementations are known for asynchronous addition and multiplication, only straightforward algorithms have been studied for division. This paper compares several digit-recurrence division algorithms (speed, area and circuit activity for estimating the power consumption). The comparison is based on simulations of the different operators described at the gate level. This work shows that the best solutions for asynchronous circuits are quite different from those used in synchronous circuits

Design of ALU and Cache Memory for an 8 bit ALU

The design of an ALU and a Cache memory for use in a high performance processor was examined in this thesis. Advanced architectures employing increased parallelism were analyzed to minimize the number of execution cycles needed for 8 bit integer arithmetic operations. In addition to the arithmetic unit, an optimized SRAM memory cell was designed to be used as cache memory and as fast Look Up Table. The ALU consists of stand alone units for bit parallel computation of basic integer arithmetic operations. Addition and subtraction were performed using Kogge Stone parallel prefix hardware operating at 330MHz. A high performance multiplier was built using Radix 4 Modified Booth Encoder (MBE) and a Wallace Tree summation array. The multiplier requires single clock cycle for 8 bit integer multiplication and operates at a maximum frequency of 100MHz. Multiplicative division hardware was built for executing both integer division and square root. The division hardware computes 8-bit division and square root in 4 clock cycles. Multiplier forms the basic building block of all these functional units, making high level of resource sharing feasible with this architecture. The optimal operating frequency for the arithmetic unit is 70MHz. A 6T CMOS SRAM cell measuring 90 µm2 was designed using minimum size transistors. The layout allows for horizontal overlap resulting in effective area of 76 µm2 for an 8x8 array. By substituting equivalent bit line capacitance of P4 L1 Cache, the memory was simulated to have a read time of 3.27ns. An optimized set of test vectors were identified to enable high fault coverage without the need for any additional test circuitry. Sixteen test cases were identified that would toggle all the nodes and provide all possible inputs to the sub units of the multiplier. A correlation based semi automatic method was investigated to facilitate test case identification for large multipliers. This method of testability eliminates performance and area overhead associated with conventional testability hardware. Bottom up design methodology was employed for the design. The performance and area metrics are presented along with estimated power consumption. A set of Monte Carlo analysis was carried out to ensure the dependability of the design under process variations as well as fluctuations in operating conditions. The arithmetic unit was found to require a total die area of 2mm2 (approx.) in 0.35 micron process