A new field programmable system-on-a-chip for mixed signal integration

A new RAM-based, mixed-signal, multicontext dynamically reconfigurable Field Programmable Device with on-chip microprocessor is described. A completely integrated mixed-signal CAD and microprocessor programming environment is used to design and simulate electronic systems composed by microprocessor code and digital and analog hardware. The very flexible communication between the microprocessor, the configurable digital cells and the programmable analog blocks makes possible powerful integration, real-time emulation (internal signals and configuration are available to the microprocessor) and advanced run-time reconfiguration.