Bob Zeidman
Zeidman Consulting

Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are becoming a critical part of every system design. Many vendors offer many different architectures and processes. Which one is right for your design? How do you design one of these so that it works correctly and functions as you expect in your entire system? These are the questions that this paper sets out to answer.

The first sections of this paper deals with the internal architecture and characteristics of these devices. Simple programmable logic devices are described in an overview, leading up to a detailed description of the Complex Programmable Logic Device and the Field Programmable Gate Array. The various architectures of these devices are examined in detail along with their tradeoffs, which allow you to decide which particular device is right for your design.

The next sections of this paper discuss in detail, the design, simulation, and testing issues that arise when designing a CPLD or FPGA. The final sections of this paper examine new architectures of programmable devices and the software needed to support them. Understanding these issues will allow you to design a chip that functions correctly in your system and will be reliable throughout the lifetime of your product.