电子信息类专业英语（西电第二版Unit 22 Modern Digital Design.ppt

　　FPGAs 　　FPGA is the abbreviation of Field Programmable Gate Array. This denotes an integrated circuit that is programmed in the field, i.e. by the system manufacturer. FPGAs can be characterized by the following item:  　　· High production cost; 　　· Low design density; 　　· Low development effort. 　　FPGA Usage 　　In the past, FPGAs have been a niche market. Typical applications were prototyping and emulation systems.［2］ Complexity was too low to implement real products and pricing was too expensive for moderate volumes. In the past few years, FPGA technology made large success, changing the way FPGAs are used dramatically:  　　· FPGAs are being used in mainstream products 　　-Networking; 　　-Telecom; 　　-DSP; 　　-Consumer electronics. 　　· More FPGA design starts than ASIC design starts. 　　Case Studies 　　Just a few years ago, FPGAs were an important but peripheral niche in the semiconductor industry. Known for their flexibility, FPGAs were widely used for ASIC emulation, glue-logic consolidation, or as a solution for applications with volatility and changing standards. FPGA process technology usually lagged the industry by at least one process generation, and the incredible power of re-programmability was paced by high production prices, slow internal performance, and tools that required 10 to 20 hours to compile 50,000 gates.［3］ 　　Today, FPGAs are often the heart of the system, being designed into mainstream as well as state-of-the-art high-volume products. Market dynamics, technology innovation, cost models, and tools have all been affected by the deep submicron era. All these factors have made FPGAs a viable alternative to ASIC design. FPGAs facilitate flexibility, quick time-to-market and are being used as production solutions in everything from networking and industrial to consumer applications. Architecturally and by design, FPGAs minimize issues common to deep submicron technology, while maintaining the ASIC abstraction. In keeping with the entire s