What is an FPGA?
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device consisting of a matrix of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) connected by programmable interconnects. FPGAs can be reprogrammed after manufacturing to meet the desired application or functional requirements.
This feature sets FPGAs apart from application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), allowing you to tailor FPGA devices to specific design tasks. While there are one-time programmable (OTP) FPGAs on the market, most are SRAM-based types that can be reprogrammed as the design evolves.
What is the difference between ASICs and FPGAs?
ASICs and FPGAs have different value propositions and must be carefully evaluated before making a choice.
Compare the two technologies. Whereas FPGAs are used for lower speed/complexity/capacity designs, today’s FPGAs can easily break the 500 MHz performance barrier. FPGAs enable unparalleled increases in logic density and numerous other features (such as embedded processors, DSP modules, clocking technology, and high-speed serial) at a lower price. They are now the first choice for almost any design.
FPGA Applications
Aerospace and military products: Radiation-resistant FPGAs and IP cores for graphics processing, waveform generation, and SDR partial reconfiguration.
ASIC Prototyping: FPGA-based ASIC prototypes for fast and accurate SoC system modelling and embedded software verification.
Automotive: Automotive silicon and IP solutions for implementing gateways and driver assistance systems, comfort, convenience, and in-car infotainment.
Broadcast and Professional AV: Rapidly adapt to changing market demands and extend product life with broadcast target design platforms and high-end professional broadcast system solutions.
Consumer Electronics: Cost-effective solutions to support a new generation of full-featured consumer applications such as integrated handheld devices, digital flat panel displays, information appliances, home networking, and residential set-top boxes.
Data Centers: Designed for high-bandwidth, low-latency servers, networking and storage that enable higher-value cloud services.
High-performance computing and data storage: Solutions for network attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SAN), servers and storage devices.
Industrial: FPGA and target design platforms for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) enable greater flexibility, faster time-to-market and lower total epigenetic engineering cost (NRE) for various applications, including industrial imaging and surveillance, industrial automation and medical imaging devices.
Medical: For diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic applications, the Virtex FPGA and Spartan® FPGA families address a wide range of processing, display and I/O interface requirements.
Security: Solutions are available to meet the needs of evolving security applications, from access control to surveillance and security systems.
Video and Image Processing: FPGAs and target design platforms enable greater flexibility, faster time-to-market and lower overall non-recurring design costs (NRE) for a wide range of video and imaging applications.
Wired Communications: End-to-end solutions for programmable network card packet processing, framers/MACs, serial backplanes, and many more applications
Wireless Communications: RF, baseband, connectivity, transport and networking solutions for wireless devices supporting WCDMA, HSDPA, WiMAX and other standards.