Cellular array processor CAP and applications

A description is given of a general-purpose, highly parallel, cellular array processor (CAP) featuring multiple-instruction-stream multiple-data-stream (MIMD) processing and image display. Processor elements can number in the several hundreds; the present system uses 256 processors. Each processor element consists of a general-purpose microprocessor, a memory, and a special VLSI chip that performs parallel-processing-specific functions such as processor communication and synchronization. The VLSI has two 2-Mbyte/s independent common interfaces for data broadcasting and six 15-Mbyte/s serial communication ports for local data communication. The chip can also process image data in real time for multiple processors. Use of the communication bus interfaces enables a variety of processor networks to be configured. One CAP application has been computer graphics, in which it uses ray tracing to generate quality images efficiently.<>