Flexibility gives FPGAs the advantage in growing number of applications.
The flexibility of programmable components has become more important than ever as electronics adoption continues to grow in more and more applications. For example, in the automotive industry on-board integrated systems are multiplying to provide greater convenience and safety, along with improved pollution control. Cutting-edge electronic modules provide greater functionality at ever-decreasing cost. The standard components (or Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP)) and specifi c ASIC-type circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) available on this market are however often found to be inadequate for the demands made on them.
The needs of manufacturers frequently change between the initial design specifi cation and the arrival of a new vehicle on the market, making demands on the fl exibility of the electronics which are diffi cult to satisfy using ASSPs and ASICs, especially within an accessible price range. The cost of masks set in 40/45 nm technologies reaches millions of dollars. The effect of this is clearly a fall in the number of ASSPs and ASICs. In 2009, the number of new ASIC designs fell by 21%. FPGAs, on the other hand, are entering the world of processors because of their flexibility of use, coupled with the effi ciency and performance levels of hardware solutions. SRAM-based programmable components combine the benefi ts of fast integration and flexibility during the design stage while being adaptable to multiple standards.
For instance, the FPGA is now vital in mobile telephone infrastructures. The latest generations being installed are based on 3GPP LTE technology, whose full range of specifi cations is not yet fi nalised. Base station suppliers have however already begun to deliver LTE technology, while remaining committed to support the existing 3G W-CDMA or CDMA2000 standards. Equipment manufacturers must ensure that these base stations can be easily upgraded when required to adapt to any change in standard. In addition, operators require slight variations in different countries and some parts of the world are intending to use WiMax.
To my knowledge, no supplier of fi xed and mobile telecommunications infrastructure relies only partially on FPGA solutions. Programmable components are fast becoming the only economically-viable approach for new systems.
Jean-Louis Brelet, Senior Marketing Manager Product Definition, Xilinx.
From eTech issue 6
