Dynamically reconfigurable logic controller - architecture of improved programmability

Artykuł przedstawia architekturę sterownika bitowego implementowanego w strukturze FPGA umożliwiającego wyeliminowanie złożonego procesu implementacji poprzez wykorzystanie odpowiedniej struktury sprzętowej i narzędzi programowania.The paper presents an idea of a Programmable Logic Controller for binary control implemented in an FPGA device with use of custom designed architecture and implementation tools. The solution does not require vendor synthesis and implementation tools except for final bitstream generation. It is an extension of the previously proposed architecture (Figs. 1 and 2). The architecture is based on a hardwired set of connections that is formed inside the FPGA device žLC units. The žLC can be programmed by means of LUT table modification. The architecture is mainly limited by the hardwired connection that bases on an invariant set of multiplexed signals delivered to the žLC. A new architecture is proposed, extending programmability of the architecture to programmable connections which are available in FPGAs (Figs. 3 and 4). The žLC architecture has also been modified and exactly fitted into the regular structure of an FPGA (Fig. 5). The new logic resources supplementing architecture modifications of the controller has been defined. They are input (Fig. 6) and output (Fig. 7) cells. The possible computation capabilities of FPGA devices are gathered in Tab. 1. The research task is in progress. A new solution with extended use of programmable connections, better exploitation of logic resources and easiness of logic synthesis and programming is searched for