As consumer demand keeps changing, manufacturers need to change or upgrade their product to stay relevant. FPGAs are designed to provide the required flexibility and make changes to the device functionalities at any point even after deployment at the customers’ end. This blog will discuss how FPGAs can provide noteworthy benefits to enterprises.
In this age, the production machines are expected to be highly flexible and accommodating to sustain the constantly changing product demands. Many of these machines operate using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) that are specifically designed to allow flexibility in system design even after the manufacturing.
An FPGA is a semiconductor IC that permits modifications in the majority of electrical functionalities inside the device. It can be changed during the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) assembly process, can be changed by the design engineer, or can also be changed after the device is deployed on the field. It enables the system owners to update the product functions and features, reconfigure hardware for specific applications, and adapt to new standards even when the products have been shipped to the customers.
Adoption of FPGAs has been driven by the concept of combining the best features of ASICs and processor-based systems.
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FPGAs can be leveraged across various industries to provide the following benefits:
Parallel Processing: FPGAs are truly parallel, so different autonomous operations do not have to compete for the same resources. Each processing task is independent and is assigned to a chip section that is dedicatedly working on that particular task. All these chip sections can function independently without influencing any other logic blocks. Hence, the performance of all the sections remains unaffected even if more processing operations are added.
Total Cost of Ownership: FPGAs come with reduced risks as prototype systems can be shipped to the customers for field trials. This can be done while retaining the ability to make quick changes before moving to mass production. FPGAs are cost-effective as compared to ASIC for smaller applications. In addition, there are non-recurring engineering expenses associated with ASIC, which is not the case with FPGA.
Simple Design Cycle: FPGA design takes less time and the design cycle is super simple, no need of masks, layouts, or any other back-end processes.
Re-usability: A single FPGA can be used for different applications by simply reprogramming the HDL (Hardware Description Language) code. So, the same FPGA can be re-used multiple times, with minor modifications.
Flexibility: With FPGA functionality, design engineers can make changes to the device by simply downloading a configuration file into that device and verifying the change. These changes can be made to the FPGAs without having to make any expensive changes to the PC board.
Performance: With the help of hardware parallelism, FPGAs can accomplish more per clock cycle by changing the sequential execution approach, thus exceeding the computing power of Digital Signal Processors (DSPs).
Time to market: FPGA provides enough flexibility and quick prototyping capabilities, which allow companies to reduce the time to market. Before moving forward, companies can test their concept and verify the hardware design using FPGA technology. Once the hardware design is prepared, it can undergo incremental changes, thus reducing the overall time spent in the process.
To help businesses leverage FPGAs to its fullest potential, eInfochips has partnered with companies like Intel, Microsemi, and Xilinx.
DOWNLOAD WHITE PAPER: FPGA Prototyping Trends and Challenges Download Now
Intel’s Design Solutions Network is an ecosystem of independent companies that offer the solutions and services based on Intel FPGA and SoC platforms to its customers. As an Intel DSN partner, eInfochips (An Arrow Company) makes use of Altera’s FPGA platform to offer design and development services based on the latest Intel Aria, Stratix, and Cyclone platforms.
eInfochips is also a Microsemi Companion Core partner and has developed expertise in Microsemi IGLOO2, IGLOO, ProASIC3, and Fusion (Mixed Signal) FPGA Families. We focus on creating critical systems on Microsemi devices and have developed DO-254 compliant DAL-A (Critical) avionics systems for military and commercial aircraft based on Microsemi FPGA devices.
As a Xilinx Alliance Program Member, eInfochips gets access to all the recent Xilinx platforms and direct support from Xilinx product teams. Until now, we have developed and delivered several design tape-outs on advanced verification methodologies, multiple hardware verification languages, high-speed protocol standards, and EDA tools and technologies. We deliver services including feasibility and architecture, RTL development, board design, RTL design verification, pre-silicon validation, IP development, and DO-254 system design through our experience with tools like ISE Design Suite, Vivado Design Suite, ChipScope, PlanAhead, and System Generator.
DOWNLOAD CASE STUDY: FPGA based UltraHD (4K) Camera Design Download Now
eInfochips aims to accelerate product development and minimize product development risk while delivering all the above-discussed benefits to the customers. If your business wishes to benefit from our FPGA partnerships for your next project, you can get in touch with us.
