Multiple-Valued Logic as a New Computing Paradigm - A Brief Survey of Higuchi's Research on Multiple-Valued Logic

摘要

One of the most important accelerators for the progress of digital signal processing is real-time VLSI computing, and VLSI technology contributes to its development. Higuchi started the research on VLSI computing including a multiple-valued integrated circuit and a high-performance arithmetic circuit from the beginning of 1970's to apply the technology to signal processing. At that time, it was very advanced to notice a dedicated processor for signal processing, since only a large-scale computer was an important target in academy and industry. An addition, a multiplication and a unit delay element are fundamental components of digital signal processing. Throughresearch on high performance hardware design for digital signal processing, various new academic concepts could be originated including not only circuit and logic design levels, but also architecture and application design levels. Interactive merge between the levels from device/circuit to VLSI architecture became very important to develop a pioneering work of VLSI system with new paradigms. Its development also led to a new VLSI area called robot electronics, which comprehensively includes a signal processing area. That is, System-on-Chip concept was proposed in early 1970's.