Abstract :
Interfacing different hardware devices, combining software and hardware, has always been one of the most challenging, important and problematic design points in modern hardware based systems. The interface should be defined per link between two hardware devices and must support essential properties like data and clock synchronization. If the system consists of many hardware devices, routing the system messages and data between them is required. μLAN suggests a solution to the above by implementing a standard, generic and modular interface between two or more programmable hardware devices. μLAN is a network that was designed for the special needs of a network between programmable hardware devices within a system. It can be implemented in any digital hardware system containing one or more programmable hardware devices, such as FPGA, ASIC or DSP
Keywords :
local area networks; network interfaces; programmable circuits; synchronisation; ASIC; DSP; FPGA; clock synchronization; data routing; data synchronization; digital hardware system; hardware devices interfacing; local area network; modular interface; programmable hardware devices; software; system messages routing; Clocks; Communication system software; Field programmable gate arrays; Hardware design languages; Laboratories; Local area networks; Master-slave; Protocols; Routing; Synchronization;