List of FPGA Companies

Since the inception of FPGA technology there were actually only two FPGA companies in the market: Xilinx and Altera. Along the years, both companies did a terrific job growing the market and protecting their market share. When Intel acquired Altera, Xilinx was left as the only major FPGA company in the market. Xilinx had ~50% market share while Altera (Intel) has ~37% and Lattice Semiconductor has a 10% market share. In October 2020, AMD has acquired Xilinx. This concludes that the 2 largest CPU vendors have acquired the 2 largest FPGA companies.

During the last 20 year, FPGA vendors have enjoyed a steady growth – a recent market report indicates that the FPGA market will reach USD 9B by 2023. In the next 5 years FPGA companies will see growth in markets such as: AI, IoT and LIDAR. All the major FPGA companies are competing to get a foothold in those emerging markets.

In this paper, we’ve assembled a list of FPGA companies and their product offering: Xilinx (AMD), Altera (Intel) Microchip Technology, QuickLogic Corporation,  Efinix, GOWIN Semiconductor and Achronix Semiconductor. Corporation (US);

Xilinx (AMD)

Xilinx is the leader in FPGAs for several years, Xilinx has a range of FPGAs in terms of cost and performance. Xilinx’s portfolio combines devices in the categories of FPGAs, SoCs, and 3DICs, as well as software-defined development environments. Xilinx is known to use TSMC silicon technology for building its FPGAs. In October 2020, AMD acquired Xilinx for 38B USD. AMD will target high performance computing market with Xilinx FPGA technology.

Website: www.xilinx.com

Read more: Xilinx brief history.

Altera (Intel)

Intel acquired Altera in 2015. Altera’s portfolio consists of FPGAs, SoCs with embedded processor systems, CPLDs, ASICs, and power solutions. Altera’s offering covers the low, mid and upper end markets with the CPLDs and high-end FPGA.

We believe that Altera have access to Intel’s fab and will therefore get their silicon technology there.

Website: www.altera.com

Read more: Altera brief history.

Lattice Semiconductor

Lattice Semiconductor provides low power FPGA and IP products to the consumer, communications, industrial, computing, and automotive markets worldwide. Lattice Semiconductor is known for providing low-cost FPGAs with low- power capabilities.

Website: www.latticesemi.com

QuickLogic

QuickLogic has a portfolio of FPGA products based on SRAM and Antifuse technology. These type of FPGAs are targeting mostly low power applications, for example: battery operated products. Some of the FPGAs consisting of MCUs and they are able to process audio and other sensor inputs. QuickLogic is targeting the following markets: AI, , hearable, wearable, remote control, IoT and smart home.

Website: www.quicklogic.com

Microchip Technology

Microchip offers 4 types of programmable products: FPGAs, SoC FPGAs, Radiant-Tolerant FPGAs and Antifuse FPGAs. Those FPGA are addressing the following markets: high-bandwidth connectivity and high-data throughput, including hybrid and electric vehicles, communications, Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure, industrial controls and automation, spacecraft, commercial aircraft and defense equipment.

Website: www.microchip.com

Achronix

Achronix offers high-performance FPGA solutions targeting 5G infrastructure, AI, ML, networking and data center applications. Achronix FPGA products are based on TSMC technology.

Website: www.achronix.com

Efinix

Founded in 2014, Efinix’s FPGA products are targeting a broad spectrum of applications from consumer electronics to edge compute, from AI image processing to industrial automation. Each FPGA product has in it’s heart a reconfigurable logic element that can be used as either a logic or routing resource — utilize silicon area to maximum efficiency.

Website: www.efinixinc.com