Actel FPGA: Characteristics, Architecture, Applications

1. DSD Presentation Introduction of Actel FPGA

2. Outline • Overview • Actel FPGA Characteristic • Actel FPGA Architecture • Actel FPGA Application

3. Introduction To FPGA • FPGA • Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) • Programmable Logic Device (PLD) • Development Bias • High Density • High Performance • Low Cost • Low Power • Integrated

4. Supplier • Many FPGA suppliers have entered the market over the years • Xilinx • Altera • Lattice • Atmel • Actel • ……etc

5. Actel • Flash based FPGA • Encryption • Do not need to be configured each time power is applied • Anti-fuse FPGA • one time programmable • Suited using on product line

6. Outline • Overview • Actel FPGA Characteristic • Actel FPGA Architecture • Actel FPGA Application

7. Actel FPGA Characteristic • Fuse vs. Anti-fuse • Flash vs. SRAM

8. Actel FPGA Characteristic • Fuse vs. Anti-fuse • Fuse • Resistance changes from Low to High at high current • Programmed only once • Anti-fuse • Resistance changes from High to Low when high voltage • Require a very small area • More connections than others technologies • Programmed only once

9. Actel FPGA Characteristic • Fuse vs. Anti-fuse • Flash vs. SRAM

10. Actel FPGA Characteristic • SRAM • Advantage: • Re-programmable (erasable) • Faster (than Flash) • Disadvantage: • Volatile • Extra ROM • Need time for reading programs from ROM • Poor Information Security

11. Actel FPGA Characteristic • Flash • Advantage: • Re-programmable (erasable) • Non-volatile • Information Security • Disadvantage: • Slower (than SRAM)

12. Outline • Overview • Actel FPGA Characteristic • Actel FPGA Architecture • Actel FPGA Application

13. Actel FPGA Architecture(AX1000)

14. Actel Programmable Gate Arrays Rows of programmable logic building blocks + rows of interconnect Anti-fuse Technology: Program Once Use Anti-fuses to build up long wiring runs from short segments

15. Actel FPGA Architecture Interconnection Fabric

16. Actel FPGA Architecture(C-Cell)

17. Actel FPGA Architecture(C-Cell) • C-Cell • Basic multiplexer logic plus more inputs and support for fast carry calculation • Carry connections are “direct” and do not require propagation through the programmable interconnect

18. Actel FPGA Architecture(R-Cell)

19. Actel FPGA Architecture(R-Cell) • R-Cell • Core is D flip-flop • Muxes for altering the clock and selecting an input • Feed back path for current value of the flip-flop for simple hold • Direct connection from one C-cell output of logic module to an R-cell input; Eliminates need to use the programmable interconnect

20. Outline • Overview • Actel FPGA Characteristic • Actel FPGA Architecture • Actel FPGA Application

21. Actel FPGA Application • Space • Military