HardwareBee
https://www.nuvation.com/
  • Find ASIC Vendors
  • Design Services Directory
    • FPGA Design Services
    • Electronic Design Services
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Add your company
  • Get Price Quotes From Vendors
    • Electronic Design Companies
    • FPGA Design Companies
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Design & Manufacturing Companies
    • Get IC Device Prices
  • Emerging ICs Directory
    • UWB
      • Spark Microsystems
    • FPGA
      • Colonge Chip
      • Rapid Silicon
    • Radar
      • Acconeer
    • Add your IC
  • Get IC Prices
  • WikiBee
  • Resources
    • FPGA Academy
    • Embedded Academy
    • FPGA vs ASIC Calculator
    • Watt to dBm Converter
    • dBm to Watt Converter
  • Pricing
    • Get Your Company Listed
    • Book a Demo
    • Get a Monthly Lead List
HardwareBee
  • Design Services Directory
    • FPGA Design Services
    • Electronic Design Services
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Add your company
  • Get Price Quotes From Vendors
    • Electronic Design Companies
    • FPGA Design Companies
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Design & Manufacturing Companies
    • Get IC Device Prices
  • Emerging ICs Directory
    • UWB
      • Spark Microsystems
    • FPGA
      • Colonge Chip
      • Rapid Silicon
    • Radar
      • Acconeer
    • Add your IC
  • Get IC Prices
  • WikiBee
  • Resources
    • FPGA Academy
    • Embedded Academy
    • FPGA vs ASIC Calculator
    • Watt to dBm Converter
    • dBm to Watt Converter
  • Pricing
    • Get Your Company Listed
    • Book a Demo
    • Get a Monthly Lead List
7102 Views

Quick Overview to FPGA Architecture

04/03/2019, hardwarebee

Get a Price Quote

More and more companies are using FPGAs as a key component in their electronic product. If you are reading this article, you are probably interested in learning more about FPGA architecture.

 

So, let us dive into the very basics of FPGA architecture.

 

What is an FPGA?

 

An FPGA, or a Field Programmable Gate Array, is a programmable chip that can be reprogrammed in the field even after it has been programmed. It is a chip whose internal configuration is set by code that is determined by the FPGA designer. FPGAs provide an element of reusability as well as flexibility which is not the case with ASICs that are largely permanent chips that cannot be programmed once they have been produced.

 

An FPGA is like a white canvas, it can perform any digital function you can imagine, it offers versatility and flexibility that do not exist anywhere else.

 

On power up, the FPGA is loading its code from an external memory and then starts behaving based on the new functionality. An FPGA is SRAM-based; therefore, a code should be downloaded every time it’s powering up.

 

FPGA are used today in a wide range of applications. FPGAs can be found in following applications: Data Center, High Performance Computing, Industrial, Medical Products, Measurement Instruments, Video & Image Processing, Wired Communications, Wireless Communications, Aerospace and Defense, ASIC Prototyping, Automotive, and more. Let’s dive into the FPGA architecture and understand the internal elements that make FPGAs so special.

 

FPGA Architecture

 

An FPGA is made up of an array of blocks called programmable logic blocks, these blocks are connected by configurable interconnect matrix. This means that both the logic behavior and internal routing can be programmed by the designer, giving the device its flexibility. The number of logic blocks is depending on the FPGA size (and price). The larger the FPGA the more logics blocks you could use. More logic blocks will allow you to use more “gates” and hence more functionality. The following diagrams show a general overview of FPGA architecture. Since the 1980’s and still today FPGAs are using the same architecture as shown below.

 

Figure 1: FPGA Architecture

 

The logic blocks and the interconnect structure are arranged in the form of a two-dimensional array and spread across the FPGA.

 

The following paragraphs describe the internal architecture of an FPGA:

 

 

Logic Blocks

 

Logic blocks are the fundamental elements in an FPGA that provide the logic function capabilities.  An FPGA consists of many logic blocks that together can perform any possible logic implementation. A logic block is configurable and generally consists of a flip-flop along with a look-up-table and a muliplexer.

 

The following drawing shows a typical FPGA logic block architecture:

 

Figure 2: FPGA Logic Block Example

 

 

Input and Output Blocks

 

Input and output blocks are located next to every physical input or output pin. The IO blocks allow the user to select each pin functionality: whether it’s input, output or tri-state. And consist of some buffers and logic that are beneficial to have near the input or output pin. In some cases, the user can also control the signal slew rate to operate on fast or slow mode.

 

Figure 3: FPGA IOB Example

 

Using the internal routing, the signal is redirected in or from the IO block to the logic block.

 

Internal Routing

 

An FPGA chip’s internal routing is one of the most critical components of the device. It is the path that is used to connect all signals, as well as your clock to the different parts of your FPGA. The various logic blocks are connected to one another with the help of this internal routing which consists of channels comprising of interconnecting wires and electrically reconfigurable switches. These switches can be manipulated to connect and disconnect the various common logic blocks at different points and create a unique FPGA chip that is specific to your requirements.

 

 

 

Figure 4: FPGA Interconnect Example

 

 

 

Further reading:

 

Top 10 FPGA Advantages

FPGA Advantages and Most Common Applications Today

FPGA vs CPLD

The Ultimate Guide to FPGA Clocks

FPGA History and Applications

Guide to FPGA Design Flow
FPGA Design Services Companies

linked in icon
Sign up for HardwareBee
* = required field

Recent Stories

CEO Talk: Maarten Kuper, QBayLogic
CEO Talk: Maarten Kuper, QBayLogic
Low ESR Capacitor: Ultimate Guide
Low ESR Capacitor: Ultimate Guide
The Ultimate Guide to PWM Controller
The Ultimate Guide to PWM Controller
What is a Piezo Driver IC and how to Choose one
What is a Piezo Driver IC and how to Choose one
Introduction to Hall Effect Sensor ICs
Introduction to Hall Effect Sensor ICs
The Ultimate Guide to: Oscillator ICs
The Ultimate Guide to: Oscillator ICs
Low Noise Amplifier: Ultimate Guide
Low Noise Amplifier: Ultimate Guide
ASIC Prototyping
Get 3 Quotes from Electronic Design Companies
Get 3 Quotes from FPGA Design Companies
Get 3 Quotes from Embedded SW Services
Get 3 Quotes from EMS Companies

Find Design Services

Get IC Prices

Get Price Offers From
  • Electronic Design Services
  • FPGA Design Services
  • Embedded Software Companies
  • PCB Layout Services
  • Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers
  • Design & Manufacturing Services
Welcome New Vendors
  • VVDN Technologies
  • Spark Product Innovation
  • QBayLogic
  • Fidus Systems
  • nao.design
Browse Vendor Directories
  • Electronic Design Companies
  • FPGA Design Companies
  • Embedded Software Services
  • Manufacturing Companies
Featured Vendor

Byte Lab

Recent Posts
  • CEO Talk: Maarten Kuper, QBayLogic
  • Low ESR Capacitor: Ultimate Guide
  • The Ultimate Guide to PWM Controller
  • What is a Piezo Driver IC and how to Choose one
  • Introduction to Hall Effect Sensor ICs
Most Popular Blog Posts
  • The Ultimate Guide to: Variable Gain Amplifier
  • FPGA for AI (Artificial Intelligence): Ultimate Guide
  • PCB Stackup: Ultimate Guide and Examples
  • The Ultimate Guide to Logic Chips
  • FPGA Video Processing: Ultimate Guide

Never miss an update!

Follow us on LinkedIn

Do you need any price
information?

(Electronic design, FPGA design, Embedded SW services, PCB design, Turnkey)

Yes
No
This page is sponsored by
HardwareBee

Copyright 2017-2024, HardwareBee. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Get Free Support
  • Get listed
  • Send a wiki/article
  • Advertise

Follow Us

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn company page where we share our latest updates LinkedIn
Partner with us Partner with us

Design and Manufacturing Services

  • Engineering Design Services
  • Electronic Design and Manufacturing
  • Electronic Product Development
  • Electronic Product Design
  • Electronic Consulting Services
  • Electronic Engineering Companies
  • Electronic Engineering Services
  • Electronic Product Design and Development
  • Electronics Design Services
  • Electronics Design Company
  • Electronic Design Consultants
  • Electronic Design Company
  • FPGA Design Company
  • FPGA Consultant
  • FPGA Design Services UK
  • Electronics Manufacturing services
  • Electronics Manufacturing Companies
  • Electronic Contract Manufacturing Companies
  • Electronic Manufacturing Services Companies
  • EMS Companies Directory
  • Electronic Design Services
  • FPGA Design Services
  • Embedded Software Companies
  • PCB Layout Services
  • Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers
  • Design and Manufacturing Services
X

Don’t miss anything, follow us on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hardwarebee/

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Additional Cookies

This website uses the following additional cookies:

(List the cookies that you are using on the website here.)

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!