FPGA design method

There are numerous options for designers in selecting a hardware platform for custom electronics design, ranging from embedded processors, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Programmable Micro-processors (PICs), FPGAs to Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs). The decision to choose a specific technology such as an FPGA should depend primarily on the design requirements rather than a personal preference for one technique over another.

For example, if the design requires a programmable device with many design changes, and algorithms using complex operations such asmultiplications and looping, then it may make more sense to use a dedicated signal processor device such as a DSP that can be programmed and reprogrammed easily using C or some other high level language. If the speed requirements are not particularly stringent, and a compact cheap platform is required, then a general purpose microprocessor such as a PIC would be an ideal choice.

Finally, if the hardware requirements require a higher level of performance, say up to several 100MHz operation, then an FPGA offers a suitable level of performance, while still retaining the flexibility and reusability of programmable logic. Other issues to consider are the level of optimization in the hard ware design required. For example, a simple software program can be written in C, and then a PIC device programmed, but the performance may be limited by the inability of the processor to offer parallel operation of key functions.