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Short article on FPGA
An '''FPGA''' is a '''F'''ield '''P'''rogrammable '''G'''ate '''A'''rray, a type of [[gate array]] that is programmable after assembly. Usually, FPGAs are also reprogrammable, meaning they can be upgraded.
== Architecture ==
Most FPGAs have combinatorial blocks followed by sequential elements. A combinatorial block can be used to implement boolean logic such as AND, OR, NAND, NOR, and other combinations. A sequential element is a flip flop, a single bit memory, most often a D flip-flop. Some FPGAs also have more complex memories organized as RAM. The most complex FPGAs have processors, multi-giga bit tranceivers, DSP and other high-order functions built in.
== Applications ==
FPGAs can be used for a variety of embedded system applications, from specialized network packet processors (e.g., VoIP firewalls) to systems on a chip (processor, memory, peripheral devices). For example, Internet core routers often use FPGAs on media cards for packet processing and routing functions.
== See Also ==
*[http://www.fpga-faq.org/FPGA_Boards.shtml List of FPGA boards and systems]
*[http://www.actel.com/techdocs/appnotes/default.aspx Actel Application notes]
*[http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-an.jsp Altera Application notes]
*[http://www.xilinx.com/xlnx/xweb/xil_publications_index.jsp?category=Application+Notes Xilinx application notes]
== Architecture ==
Most FPGAs have combinatorial blocks followed by sequential elements. A combinatorial block can be used to implement boolean logic such as AND, OR, NAND, NOR, and other combinations. A sequential element is a flip flop, a single bit memory, most often a D flip-flop. Some FPGAs also have more complex memories organized as RAM. The most complex FPGAs have processors, multi-giga bit tranceivers, DSP and other high-order functions built in.
== Applications ==
FPGAs can be used for a variety of embedded system applications, from specialized network packet processors (e.g., VoIP firewalls) to systems on a chip (processor, memory, peripheral devices). For example, Internet core routers often use FPGAs on media cards for packet processing and routing functions.
== See Also ==
*[http://www.fpga-faq.org/FPGA_Boards.shtml List of FPGA boards and systems]
*[http://www.actel.com/techdocs/appnotes/default.aspx Actel Application notes]
*[http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-an.jsp Altera Application notes]
*[http://www.xilinx.com/xlnx/xweb/xil_publications_index.jsp?category=Application+Notes Xilinx application notes]