MICON: Automated Design of Computer Systems

Semiconductor technology is providing tremendous opportunities for high processing power, reliable, and low-cost computers in the office or lab. Many of these computers, spanning the range from personal computers to super-mini’s, are based on commercially available microprocessor family components. The high-end microprocessors available today commonly support virtual memory and main memory cache. Complementing these devices are a full array of high-performance dedicated processors (e.g. graphics controllers and numerical coprocessors) and communication components. A very sophisticated machine can be constructed almost entirely from off-the-shelf components. It appears that semiconductor designers have just begun to tap the well of possibilities, promising more performance and function in future chips.