FPGAs : An Overview

Sanjiv Malik

October 18, 2007

What is Programmable Logic?

Can be defined as an IC whose functionality can be modified On-the fly

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Field Programmable Gate Arrays

FPGA is an IC with ability to reconfigure its circuitry for a desired application or function at any time after manufacturing Adaptive hardware that continuously changes in response to the input data or processing environment Combination of general-purpose processors and ASICs (Application Specific IC). Quick reconfiguration time, in order of 100 S to 1 mS

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FPGA Facts
You can download FPGAs as many time as you want no limit - with different functionalities every time if you want. If you make a mistake in your design, just fix your "logic function", re-compile and re-download it. No PCB, solder or component to change. The designs can run much faster than if you were to design a board with discrete components, since everything runs within the FPGA, on its silicon die. FPGAs loose their functionality when the power goes away (like RAM in a computer that looses its content). You have to re-download them when power goes back up to restore the functionality.
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FPGA Facts (Cont..)

FPGAs Evolved from PALs, PLDs, Complex PLDs FPGAs comparison to other options
Technology Custom VLSI Gate array FPGA Gates <10M <2M <100K Speed <500 MHz <200 MHz <100 MHz NRE Cost $20K-$100M $10K-$1M $100-$100K Part Cost $1-up $1-up $10-$1K Spin time weeks days/weeks minutes/hours

FPGA Strengths: quick prototyping and time-to-market, reprogrammability, relatively easy to use FPGA Weaknesses: cost, density, speed FPGA Vendors: Xilinx, Altera, Actel, Atmel, Lucent, Cypress, QuickLogic, IBM, Motorola
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FPGAs vs CPLDs
FPGAs are "fine-grain" devices. That means that they contain a lot (up to 100000) of tiny blocks of logic with flip-flops. FPGAs are RAM based. They need to be "downloaded" (configured) at each power-up. FPGAs can contain very large digital designs FPGAs have special routing resources to implement efficiently binary counters and arithmetic functions (adders, comparators...). CPLDs are "coarse-grain" devices. They contain relatively few (a few 100's max) large blocks of logic with flip-flops. CPLDs are EEPROM based. They are active at power-up (i.e. as long as they've been programmed at least once CPLDs can contain small designs only. CPLDs do not have

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An Example FPGA Chip

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Where are FPGAs used?

Some of the examples of FPGA usage are: Fast prototypes of large designs for simulation/ verification later to be implemented in ICs Signal, image processing: filters, warping, music Graphics, UART and other device controllers Military: target dependent correlation/recognition Cryptography: DES search Hardware genetic algorithms

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FPGA internal design

The basic structure of FPGAs is array-based, meaning that each chip comprises a twodimensional array of logic blocks that can be interconnected via horizontal and vertical routing channels. FPGAs consists of an array of CLB, IOB and programmable interconnects CLB : Configurable Logic Block IOB : Input/output block
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FPGA Internal design(Cont..)

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Control Logic Block

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Example Control Logic Block

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Input/Output Block

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FPGA Development tools

Design tools Pin Assignment tools Design Entry tools Simulation tools Synthesis tools

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FPGA Programming Steps

1. Use a computer to describe the "logic function" that you want. You might draw a schematic, or create a text file describing the function, doesn't matter. Compile the "logic function" on your computer, using a software provided by the FPGA vendor. That creates a binary file that can be downloaded into the FPGA. Connect a cable from your computer to the FPGA, and download the binary file to the FPGA. That's it! Your FPGA behaves according to your "logic function".
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Our Sample Board

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Step 1: Creating the logic[VHDL)

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Advance FPFA based system designs

For designing microprocessor-based complex embedded systems, advance FPGAs are available. These contains gates of the order of TODO Xilings and vendors provide system design wizards to create complex systems.

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Xilings FPGA based Advance system design

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Xilings FPGA based Advance system design(Cont)

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Xilings FPGA based Advance system design(Cont)

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Conclusion
Over time FPGAs will become the dominant form of digital logic design and implementation. Their ease of access, principally through the low cost of the devices, makes them attractive to small firms and small parts of large companies. The fast manufacturing turn-around they provide is an essential element of success in the market.

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