Research using Tensilica's Technology

In order to use the great idea of Tensilica's extensible processor and Xtensa tool chain in our coming NFSC project to develop a computation-intensive processor, we submitted our application items (1. University Program Application Form; 2. License Agreements; 3. University Program Information Form) to Tensilica's University Program Coordinator at 2007-03-21, and we were delighted with receiving Tensilica's authorization signed by V.P. of Marketing, Stephen Roddy on 2007-03-27.

To our surprise, the startup of this NFSC project has been delayed a year because of time conflict with other projects.

In the past year, some of our teachers and students used Xtensa in some classes with great results. We researched Xtensa Xplorer, XCC Compiler, ISS, XPRES Compiler and TIE Compiler systems. Also, some students have made some great and complicated experiments using Xtensa tool chain. For instance, a MPSoC with two different cores.

Another aspect of our utilizing Xtensa tools is brewing a few technological papers, which would show our appraisement of it.

Now, with the preparation of studying Xtensa last year, we believe that we will achieve real-chip results with the support of NFSC and Tensilica's tools.

Outline of Curriculum and Courses

• Digital signal processing with Matlab
• VLSI Chip Design with Verilog
• DSP Intergrated Circuits
• Large RISC Processor Design
• Microprocessor Architectures

Student/Assistants Outreach

Because our graduate school is a very small one with just a hundred postgraduate and doctoral candidates in all majors and graduate levels, there would be about 10 high-graduate-level students using Tensilica tools per year. Of course, we are very interested in participating in college recruiting program with Tensilica.

IME's URL link

IME's Institution of Microelectronics, CAS URL link

Prof. XU Xinfeng