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Home : Computers : Hardware : Components : Processors : Minimal
Minimal
This category is for minimal microprocessors: CPUs that use various design strategies to strongly minimize the component count needed to do useful work; to be as simple as possible. This includes Forth processors, MISC (Minimal Instruction Set Computers), ROSC (Removed Operand Set Computer), SISC (Simple Instruction Set Computers), stack processors, and likely other approaches. This was one of the original goals of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computers), but many current RISC processors are more complex than the original CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computers) processors they challenged, and current CISC processors are astonishingly complex.
Minimal processors will be very useful in, and may become important for mobile and ubiquitous computing.
Minimal processors will be very useful in, and may become important for mobile and ubiquitous computing.
Sites in Minimal
Stack Computers & Forth
Philip J. Koopman, Jr., CMU page. Many reports, studies, links. Compares: CISC, RISC, Stack systems; 2 & 3 stack systems. Excellent resource.
Forth Chips
References, links to Forth and stack machines in various technologies.
Minimal Instruction Set Computers
Stack-based processors, 5-bit words, 25 instructions, 7000 transistors, 80 MIPS, 50 milliwatts, low cost; designed by Chuck Moore, creator of Forth programming language.
SandPiper Technology
Course on minimal processors: Guided Exploration of two FPGA-based CPU Designs, led by John Rible.
MSL16 Processor
Minimal instruction set, small, low power 16-bit CPU optimized to run Forth on a Xilinx FPGA. When system is stable, VHDL source code for CPU and all other code will be released to make a full open source public domain CPU.
Stack Computers: the new wave
Free on-line book by Philip J. Koopman, Jr. Read it on-line, or download it in several formats including 700k zip file. Published in 1989, the first book to explore a new breed of stack computers led by introduction of Novix NC4016.
Java Optimized Processor
JOP is the implementation of a small java processor with the JVM fitting in a FPGA.
PTSC: Patriot Scientific Corp.
Makes IGNITE I ROSC (Removed Operand Set Computer), PSC1000 32-bit embedded shBoom-based microprocessor line, many ISDN interface products, sophisticated antenna/radar technologies.
NASA: Space Related Applications of Forth
Uses of Forth microprocessors and programming language: controllers for spacecraft flight systems, on-board payload experiments, ground support; hardware or software to build or test flight or ground systems.
JFAR: Journal of Forth Application and Research: v5
1987 Rochester Forth Conference Proceedings. Four abstracts of Forth processor systems. This was the same conference at which the S.N. Baranoff papers were first publicized in the West.
Overview of the E16 CPU
Small, fast stack-based processor for FPGAs. CPU prototyped and debugged in ANS Forth. A simple RTL-specific language extension provides discrete event simulation for structural model of CPU and allows concise architecture representation.
New Micros, Inc.
Designs, builds: single board computers (SBC), peripherals, embedded systems, PCB design/layout, high level programming (industry leaders in Forth), custom design work; large line of stock products: from full handheld computers to development packages. Since 1980.
4stack Processor
Research project for high performance, low cost computing. Uses stack based instructions for a 4-way VLIW processor. Implemented in current technology, it would outrun high-end DSPs (TMS 320C6x, TigerSHARC), and let the full application run on one processor, with no further RISC core.
Enumera, Inc.
Goal: dominate very low cost, low power, single core CPU market, and have the only ultra-high-end supercomputer on-a-chip system. Because the CPU core is so small, it is possible to put 1000s of cores and memory in one IC chip package.
T-Recursive Technology
Embedded systems consultant for small (8/16-bit) and distributed microprocessor systems. Contract hardware and software development for most microcontrollers. Specialist: Forth, Assembly, C. By Bradford J. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Triangle Digital Services Ltd.
Small, powerful Forth embedded computers: let you quickly design applications: controls, portable instruments, terminals, data loggers, GPS, CAN bus, multitasking, LCD and keyboard systems. High level language makes development simple and fast; needs no PROM programmer. Forth hardware and software. |
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