RISC-V Architecture and DSP Processor Design

Explore the design of a RISC-V DSP processor using the SpringCore architecture, covering pipeline design, DSP acceleration, LLVM toolchain support, debugging with OpenOCD, and integration into a real SoC"e;Of all the RISC-V internals and design books, this is miles beyond the others. It is even superior to a vast majority of the community documentation, which can be vague. If you're working on a RISC-V project, this book is for you."e; - Matt St. Onge, CTO, Cyber Castle (ex-Principal Solutions Architect, Red Hat)Key FeaturesExplore the SpringCore RISC-V DSP architecture and its custom ISA extensionsUnderstand an 8-stage pipelined processor with Harvard memory and interrupt handlingExamine the software ecosystem, including LLVM, Eclipse IDE, and OpenOCD debuggingBook DescriptionRISC-V is reshaping processor innovation with its open and extensible instruction set architecture. But how are high-performance RISC-V digital signal processors (DSPs) designed in practice? This book explores that question through SpringCore, a RISC-V DSP architecture developed for real-time embedded control systems. Using SpringCore as a case study, the book introduces the architecture of a modern DSP processor and explains key digital design techniques used in its implementation. You will explore DSP architecture concepts, design custom ISA extensions for fixed-point and floating-point acceleration, and examine an 8-stage pipelined processor with hazard handling, zero-overhead loops, a Harvard memory architecture, protection mechanisms, and interrupt handling. The book also covers the surrounding software ecosystem, including an LLVM-based toolchain, debugging with OpenOCD and JTAG, development with an Eclipse-based IDE, and simulation support using tools such as gem5. Finally, it demonstrates how the SpringCore architecture is implemented in the FDM320RV335 DSP chip, which runs at 150 MHz and integrates peripherals such as an ADC and PWM for real-time industrial control. By the end, you will understand key DSP hardware architecture and custom ISA design principles through the practical example of SpringCore.What you will learnUnderstand DSP design principles and the RISC-V architectureDesign custom ISA extensions for DSP accelerationBuild an 8-stage pipelined RISC-V processorImplement high-performance MAC and multiplier unitsDesign Harvard memory systems with protection mechanismsOptimize interrupt handling for real-time controlExtend the LLVM backend for the SpringCore processorDevelop software using the Eclipse IDE and OpenOCD debuggingWho this book is forThis book is for computer architects, embedded systems engineers, DSP engineers, and RTL/FPGA designers interested in RISC-V processor implementation. It is also suitable for graduate students and researchers in computer architecture, VLSI, and SoC design who want to explore the SpringCore DSP architecture and its implementation. Familiarity with digital logic and processor architecture will help readers get the most from this book.]]>