Introduction

One characteristic of the PLD industry is its constant evolution as improved design tools and advances in semiconductor processes have changed the nature of the solution provided to the engineer. The early application of PLDs was primarily as "glue logic" that was used to correct errors or oversights in an ASIC or to produce the logic that interconnected the standard parts on a printed-circuit board (PCB).

Now there are two very important trends (almost discontinuities) unfolding in programmable logic. One, that is already happening, is the evolving role of the PLD device from a "glue logic" to a board-level integration role. The other trend results from the impact of the dispersal of programmable logic technology throughout the electronics industry.

Let's Integrate

The increased capacity, performance, and features, along with the lower cost of today's PLDs has changed the role of these devices to where they are often the key component on the PCB. In this system-enabling role, many of the part functions in old PCB designs have been integrated into the PLD. These include SRAM memory, FIFOs, I/O signal translators, and the board-level clock management role; plus a variety of application-specific standard products (ASSPs) that can be implemented with "soft" or "hard" embedded IP cores in the programmable device.

Altera may have been the first to put a name to this trend when it called its APEX family a system on a programmable chip (SOPC). Xilinx, with its Virtex, Virtex-E, and Spartan-II families however has taken the lead in providing programmable products that fulfil the board-level integration role. Now, both Altera and Xilinx are producing are variety of devices that fill this role. The yet to be delivered Eclipse from QuickLogic and the Delta39K from Cypress will also perform this function.

Almost all of the PLD vendors offer a number of "soft" IP cores that have been optimized for their parts. These cores have been developed by the PLD company or by a third-party partner. The most common internally developed "soft" cores have been for PCI interfaces and DSP functions.

The "hard" core approach to board-level integration is now beginning to take hold. Both established PLD suppliers and new ventures are moving into this space. The rationales behind this trend are performance requirements and/or silicon efficiency. An additional attraction to the user that comes from functional integration is a reduction in board space and in the number of components used. The generic name that the industry seems to prefer for these devices is application-specific programmable products (ASPPs).

Lucent Technologies was the first established PLD suppliers to announce a product with an embedded complex function (a 66MHz/64-bit PCI interface). Triscend was the first startup to announce and deliver an ASPP. QuickLogic is delivering or has announced the broadest line of ASSPs - its ESP line. The company is depending heavily on the ESP products for its growth.

This entire area has just gotten a tremendous boost from Altera's announcement that it is shipping a 16-bit processor as a "soft" core and plans, later this year, to begin delivering 32-bit processors based on MIPS and ARM "hard" cores embedded in its APEX 20KE devices. Other companies that have announced plans to produce processor-based ASPPs include Atmel, Cypress Semiconductor, and QuickLogic.

Chameleon is developing a device that includes an embedded ARC processor, but in this case the real role of the processor is to control DSP applications run through the FPGA section of the part. Xilinx is just putting its toe into ASPP pool with the announcement that is Virtex-II family will contain embedded 18-bit multiplier blocks. Parts from this family are due to be released before the end of this year.

Analog Devices is the first company outside of the PLD industry to announce that it will be including a programmable logic section in one it's A/D converters. The company has acquired a license for an FPGA core from Systolix, a startup with ties to the Pilkington Microelectronic FPGA program. The core will be used in a version of the AD7723 16-bit sigma-delta A/D converter to implement user-defined FIR filters.

PLD Technology Dispersal

The second major transformation is the spreading of PLD technology to create a wide range of different ICs and ASICs. Growth of the industry and a high level of interest by the academic community have created a large pool of talent with FPGA device design experience. A number of these individuals developed product concepts and application ideas that were not supported by their parent companies or institutions. They were, however, able to get support from the venture capital community.

None of these startups entered the general-purpose PLD business; recognizing the competitive strength and entrenched position of the industry leaders. In general, these companies adopted programmable logic technologies and are applying them to develop ASPP devices or IP cores for use in ASPPs or ASICs. Some of these companies are using advanced reconfigurable computing techniques in their products.

In would be near-impossible to mention all of the FPGA-based startups and ventures, since many are very secretive about their activities. Actually Waferscale Integration has been delivering this type of device to support microprocessors for a number of years before it was called an ASPP. Some of the more visible ventures include;

• Adaptive Silicon - - developing reconfigurable FPGA cores for cell-phone applications - has licensed LSI Logic to use its cores in ASICs
• Chameleon Systems - developing reconfigurable technology to implement multi-channel voice and data DSP processing
• Integrated Circuit Technology - developing memory and PLD cores for use in ASICs
• Infinite Technology Corp. - licensing and providing programmable products for high-performance DSP applications
• LightSpeed Semiconductor - developing single-mask ASIC technology with a user programmability feature
• Malleable Technologies - sampling devices for VoIP or ATM signal processing, which are programmable
• MorphICs Technology - developing reconfigurable FPGA cores for cell-phone applications
• Prosys Technology - developing reconfigurable FPGA cores for cell-phone applications - the company has been acquired by Actel
• QuickSilver Technology - developing reconfigurable FPGA-based baseband devices for cell-phone applications
• Silicon Spice - DSP-related applications - the company is very secretive
• Systolix - developing DSP-related programmable cores for licensing - company also plans to introduce ASPPs
• Triscend Corporation - Delivering processor-based ASPPs

This list does not include a number of startups and established companies that are developing programmable analog parts.

The use of a programmable core in an ASIC is one topic that has received a great deal of publicity. The first to implement a form of this concept was Lucent, which included a Chip Express laser-programmable module in an ASIC platform. Atmel and LSI Logic have stated their intention to offer ASICs with a user programmable capability. Actel and Adaptive Silicon are developing FPGA cores for ASIC devices. Despite all of the activity, this is one segment of the ASPP scene that has yet to produce tangible results.

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