Consumer multimedia systems, such as DVD recorders and digital televisions contain specialized chips that implement a large part of the functionality. Traditionally, semiconductor vendors develop a custom-tailored chip for each new product to optimize cost and performance of the target system. However, the rapid succession of new products in the market as well as the pace at which new multimedia applications are introduced foreits this approach. This thesis addresses this problem by introducing "Eclipse": a generic chip architecture that targets a whole range of products in a single architectural effort. Particular instances of such a more generic platform can then quickly be created and tuned to the product's specific requirements.

An Eclipse subsystem consists of multiple function-specific processors that can be linked to together perform a single function. The combination of function-specific processors with software configurability gives a high degree of flexibility with the efficiency of dedicated hardware. The thesis details all phases of the Eclipse design, the patented architecture concepts, the design methodology for creating new Eclipse processors, a detailed analysis of the architecture based on simulations of an Eclipse system for digital video, and three industrial applications of Eclipse.