RISC-V Architecture and DSP Processor Design

Explore the design of a RISC-V DSP processor using the SpringCore architecture, covering pipeline design, DSP acceleration, LLVM toolchain support, debugging with OpenOCD, and integration into a real SoC

"Of all the RISC-V internals and design books, this is miles beyond the others. It is even superior to a vast majority of the community documentation, which can be vague. If you're working on a RISC-V project, this book is for you." - Matt St. Onge, CTO, Cyber Castle (ex-Principal Solutions Architect, Red Hat)

Key Features

• Explore the SpringCore RISC-V DSP architecture and its custom ISA extensions
• Understand an 8-stage pipelined processor with Harvard memory and interrupt handling
• Examine the software ecosystem, including LLVM, Eclipse IDE, and OpenOCD debugging

Book Description

RISC-V is reshaping processor innovation with its open and extensible instruction set architecture. But how are high-performance RISC-V digital signal processors (DSPs) designed in practice? This book explores that question through SpringCore, a RISC-V DSP architecture developed for real-time embedded control systems.

Using SpringCore as a case study, the book introduces the architecture of a modern DSP processor and explains key digital design techniques used in its implementation. You will explore DSP architecture concepts, design custom ISA extensions for fixed-point and floating-point acceleration, and examine an 8-stage pipelined processor with hazard handling, zero-overhead loops, a Harvard memory architecture, protection mechanisms, and interrupt handling. The book also covers the surrounding software ecosystem, including an LLVM-based toolchain, debugging with OpenOCD and JTAG, development with an Eclipse-based IDE, and simulation support using tools such as gem5. Finally, it demonstrates how the SpringCore architecture is implemented in the FDM320RV335 DSP chip, which runs at 150 MHz and integrates peripherals such as an ADC and PWM for real-time industrial control.

By the end, you will understand key DSP hardware architecture and custom ISA design principles through the practical example of SpringCore.

What you will learn

• Understand DSP design principles and the RISC-V architecture
• Design custom ISA extensions for DSP acceleration
• Build an 8-stage pipelined RISC-V processor
• Implement high-performance MAC and multiplier units
• Design Harvard memory systems with protection mechanisms
• Optimize interrupt handling for real-time control
• Extend the LLVM backend for the SpringCore processor
• Develop software using the Eclipse IDE and OpenOCD debugging

Who this book is for

This book is for computer architects, embedded systems engineers, DSP engineers, and RTL/FPGA designers interested in RISC-V processor implementation. It is also suitable for graduate students and researchers in computer architecture, VLSI, and SoC design who want to explore the SpringCore DSP architecture and its implementation. Familiarity with digital logic and processor architecture will help readers get the most from this book.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Digital Signal Processors
2. The RISC-V Architecture
3. SpringCore Architecture
4. SpringCore Pipeline Design
5. Memory Access Architecture
6. Arithmetic Units
7. Exception and Interrupt Mechanisms
8. Debugging Unit Design
9. Software Development Environment
10. SpringCore-based DSP Chips

Zhang Zhiwei is a Ph.D., Researcher, and Doctoral Supervisor at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He serves as Deputy Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Specialized IC Design and leads the Digital Signal Processor research group. With nearly 20 years of experience in DSP architecture and chip development, he has led more than 10 national-level semiconductor projects. His expertise spans DSP microarchitecture, high-performance processor design, and physical implementation, with multiple products deployed at scale.