Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Physical Design of UET-RVMCU: A Streamlined Open-Source RISC-V Microcontroller

Abdullah Azhar, Uneeb Kamal, Wajid Ali, Saad Gillani, Dr Suleman Sami Qazi

Abstract

This paper presents the design and physical implementation of UET-RVMCU, a lightweight RISC-V microcontroller derived from the UETRV-PCore. Aimed at creating an accessible and flexible open-source RISC-V-based microcontroller, UET-RVMCU simplifies the application-class UETRV-PCore by reducing pipeline stages, removing MMU functionality, and integrating GPIO peripherals. The final GDSII layout was generated using an open-source RTL-to-GDS flow (OpenLane). This project demonstrates the feasibility of transforming an application-class SoC into a feature-rich microcontroller suitable for embedded systems, emphasizing low area, design simplicity, and open-source development.

Physical Design of UET-RVMCU: A Streamlined Open-Source RISC-V Microcontroller

Abstract

This paper presents the design and physical implementation of UET-RVMCU, a lightweight RISC-V microcontroller derived from the UETRV-PCore. Aimed at creating an accessible and flexible open-source RISC-V-based microcontroller, UET-RVMCU simplifies the application-class UETRV-PCore by reducing pipeline stages, removing MMU functionality, and integrating GPIO peripherals. The final GDSII layout was generated using an open-source RTL-to-GDS flow (OpenLane). This project demonstrates the feasibility of transforming an application-class SoC into a feature-rich microcontroller suitable for embedded systems, emphasizing low area, design simplicity, and open-source development.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 28 sections, 2 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Architecture Overview of UET-RVMCU
  3. Pipeline Reduction
  4. Privilege Modes
  5. Memory Management
  6. Memory Architecture
  7. Peripheral Enhancements
  8. Instruction Set Extensions
  9. Debug Support
  10. Physical Design Methodology
  11. RTL-to-GDSII Flow
  12. Synthesis
  13. Floorplanning
  14. Placement
  15. Routing
  16. ...and 13 more sections

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Block diagram of the UET-RV Microcontroller Unit (MCU).
  • Figure 2: Final GDSII layout of the SoC