A Systematically Designed Binary Array Processor

Abstract

A class of binary array processors (BAP) have evolved over the past 20 years primarily intended for image-processing applications. The advent of large-scale integrated-circuit technology makes the construction of these processors feasible. In this paper three basic instruction types that characterize a BAP are defined and the systematic design of a processor called BASE is described in detail. Two forms of BASE are discussed, a fully parallel version and an add-on unit for a conventional computer. The systematic design has enabled an assembly language with a simple, APL-like syntax to be developed. Several program examples to illustrate features of the processor are given.