Design of Systolic Arrays Systolic arrays are a specialized architecture used in VLSI digital signal processing (DSP) systems for performing systolic operati...
Systolic arrays are a specialized architecture used in VLSI digital signal processing (DSP) systems for performing systolic operations on discrete signals. This architecture finds application in various areas of DSP, including image processing, audio processing, and communication systems.
A systolic array consists of a grid of systolic blocks, which are interconnected by dedicated systolic channels. Each systolic block performs systolic operations, such as convolution, correlation, or filtering, on the corresponding input samples. The systolic channels allow data to be transferred between different systolic blocks in a parallel fashion, significantly reducing the processing time.
Key features of systolic arrays:
They consist of multiple systolic blocks organized in a grid.
Each systolic block performs a specific systolic operation on its input samples.
The systolic channels facilitate communication between different systolic blocks.
They offer significant parallelism in processing operations.
Advantages of systolic arrays:
They can achieve high performance by performing multiple systolic operations in parallel.
They are well-suited for systolic operations, which are common in various DSP applications.
They can be implemented using a relatively simple hardware architecture.
Disadvantages of systolic arrays:
They are less efficient for non-systolic operations.
They require careful design and implementation to ensure optimal performance.
Their design can be sensitive to variations in input and weight data.
Examples of systolic arrays:
Circular systolic arrays: These arrays consist of a grid of systolic blocks arranged in a circle.
Blocked systolic arrays: These arrays consist of a grid of systolic blocks arranged in a grid, with data passing through the center of the grid.
Hierarchical systolic arrays: These arrays consist of a hierarchy of systolic blocks organized into nested structures.
Further exploration:
For a deeper understanding of systolic arrays, refer to textbooks on VLSI design and digital signal processing.
Explore research papers and online resources that discuss the design and implementation of systolic arrays.
Implement a simple systolic array using a hardware description language (HDL) like Verilog or VHDL