Custom Processor Using An Fpga For Undergraduate Computer Architecture Courses

The field programmable gate array (FPGA) and modern computer aided design tools provide new opportunities in teaching computer architecture. This paper presents a simple yet nontrivial Von Neumann style computer architecture and corresponding implementation suitable for an undergraduate course in computer architecture. The processor architecture itself is worthy of study, including such features as subroutines, stack relative addressing, interrupts, and conditional branching. The processor is able to pre-fetch with some instructions and provides performance comparable to traditional small microprocessors such as the Motorola/Freescale 68HC11. The architecture and implementation documents are written so that several options are possible for introducing nod4 into the classroom curriculum. In particular, students may investigate the nod4 processor or implement the processor themselves. It is also possible to present the processor architecture entirely without the implementation.