Application of FPGA technology to performance limitations in radiation therapy

John J. DeMarco; J. B. Smathers; Tim D. Solberg; Steve Casselman

doi:10.1117/12.255827

21 October 1996 Application of FPGA technology to performance limitations in radiation therapy

John J. DeMarco, J. B. Smathers, Tim D. Solberg, Steve Casselman

Proceedings Volume 2914, High-Speed Computing, Digital Signal Processing, and Filtering Using Reconfigurable Logic; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255827
Event: Photonics East '96, 1996, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The field programmable gate array (FPGA) is a promising technology for increasing computation performance by providing for the design of custom chips through programmable logic blocks. This technology was used to implement and test a hardware random number generator (RNG) versus four software algorithms. The custom hardware consists of a sun SBus-based board (EVC) which has been designed around a Xilinx FPGA. A timing analysis indicates the Sun/EVC hardware generator computes 1 multiplied by 10⁶ random numbers approximately 50 times faster than the multiplicative congruential algorithm. The hardware and software RNGs were also compare using a Monte Carlo photon transport algorithm. For this comparison the Sun/EVC generator produces a performance increase of approximately 2.0 versus the software generators. This comparison is based upon 1 multiplied by 10⁵ photon histories.

Citation Download Citation

John J. DeMarco, J. B. Smathers, Tim D. Solberg, and Steve Casselman "Application of FPGA technology to performance limitations in radiation therapy", Proc. SPIE 2914, High-Speed Computing, Digital Signal Processing, and Filtering Using Reconfigurable Logic, (21 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255827

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available