DIAMONDS

Aim

We prepare the DIAMONDS project as part of the Open Microprocessor Initiative (OMI) in the Fourth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (1994-98). The goal is to design a new 8/16-bit microcontroller on a RISC basis, assuring software compatibility with an existing CISC family. Our part of the project is to explore a way to guarantee this compatibility. We study the various migration pathes clearly favouring translation over interpretive approaches. From this point of view we outline the constraints posed on the hardware. Our task of maintaining software compatibility has major influence on the instruction set design and on the register and memory structure of the new microcontroller.

Duration

In preparation

Project Partners

The project will include partners from both industrial and academical world. SGS Thomsons PPG Division and MISARC SRL cooperate with the Istituto d'Eletronica of the Politecnico di Milano on the hardware design whereas we at the University of Zurich are concerned with the sof tware side of the project.

Project Team

Prof. Dr. Lutz Richter
Denis N. Antonioli
Markus Pilz

More Information

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