FPGA Architecture, Design Flow, History, and Applications

All flashcards

What is an FPGA?

A field-programmable gate array is an integrated circuit that can be configured after manufacturing to implement digital circuits using programmable logic and routing.

What is a programmable logic device?

A programmable logic device (PLD) is an integrated circuit whose logic behavior can be programmed; an FPGA is one kind of PLD.

What does programmable interconnect do?

It connects logic resources and I/O so that signals can travel through the circuit designed for the FPGA.

Why are FPGAs useful in prototyping?

They allow engineers to configure, test, and revise hardware behavior without manufacturing a new custom chip for every design iteration.

What is parallel processing in an FPGA?

It is the ability to implement independent operations in separate hardware circuits so they can run at the same time.

Quiz questions

1. What is commonly needed to load configuration into an SRAM-based FPGA at startup?Answer: An external nonvolatile memory source containing the configuration.
2. How does a four-input lookup table implement a Boolean function?Answer: It stores an output value for each possible combination of its inputs.
3. For a fixed function produced in high volume, what is a common ASIC advantage over an FPGA?Answer: It can provide better speed, area, or energy efficiency for that function.
4. Which mechanisms can help protect an FPGA configuration bitstream?Answer: Bitstream encryption and authentication.
5. Which description best distinguishes a CPLD from a typical FPGA?Answer: A CPLD generally has fewer resources and a more restrictive logic structure.