The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

FPGA Based System Design

What is FPGA? FPGA=Field Programmable Gate Array. Gate Array: an array (matrix) of logic gates that can be arranged to perform any possible (combinational and/or sequential) logic function. Programmable: they can be programmed to perform any function. Field Programmable: they can be programmed in the field", that is, the device as it comes out of the production line is not committed to any specific functionality. This increases enormously the turnaround for projects and the fast prototyping of large ICs projects. Device that can be re-program / re-configure to perform required task Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is digital integrated circuit (IC) that contain configurable (programmable) blocks of logic along with configurable (programmable) interconnects between these blocks.

Evolution of Programmable Devices Programmable devices have gone through a long evolution to reach the complexity that they have today. Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are divided into 3 basic architecture types, SPLD, CPLD and FPGA.

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

PROMs The first of the simplest PLDs were PROMs appeared in 1970. A ROM is array logic with fixed AND-plane and programmable OR-plane. Programmable fusible links PROM can be used to implement any block of combinational logic Limited Inputs & Outputs. PAL (Programmable Array Logic) Introduced in the late 1970s. Opposite to PROMs. Programmable AND array and predefined OR array Faster than PLA because only one of their arrays is programmable. GAL (Generic Array Logic) Similar to PAL Generic array logic (GAL) devices offered sophisticated CMOS electrically erasable (E2) variations on the PAL concept. PLA (Programmable Logic Array) PLA is an array with programmable AND-plane and programmable OR-plane. PLAs were one-time programmable chips containing AND & OR gates and able to implement a simple logic function. A PLA device can be defined by a three parameters: o number of inputs, o number of AND gates (terms), o Number of OR gates (= number of outputs). CPLD The next step up in the evolution and complexity of programmable devices/SPLD is the CPLD, or Complex PLD. A "complex programmable logic device" (CPLD) contains many SPLD-like (PAL-like) devices interconnected via a programmable switch matrix. The SPLDlike devices were called logic-blocks, which contain many SPLD-like macrocells. The general block diagram of a CPLD is shown in figure.

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) A more advanced programmable logic than the CPLD is the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). An FPGA is more flexible than CPLD, allows more complex logic implementations, and can be used for implementation of digital circuits that use equivalent of several Million logic gates. An FPGA is like a CPLD except that its logic blocks that are linked by wiring channels are much smaller than those of a CPLD and there are far more such logic blocks than there are in a CPLD. FPGA logic blocks consist of smaller logic elements. A logic element has only one flip-flop that is individually configured and controlled. Logic complexity of a logic element is only about 10 to 20 equivalent gates. A further enhancement in the structure of FPGAs is the addition of memory blocks that can be configured as a general purpose RAM. Figure shows the general structure of an FPGA. As shown in Figure, an FPGA is an array of many logic blocks that are linked by horizontal and vertical wiring channels. FPGA RAM blocks can also be used for logic implementation or they can be configured to form memories of various word sizes and address space. Linking of logic blocks with the I/O cells and with the memories are done through wiring channels. Within logic blocks, smaller logic elements are linked by local wires.

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Fine- Medium and Coarse-Grained Architectures: The concept refers to the elementary block that can be programmed. In fine-grained architectures it is a very simple logic function (e.g. NAND gate, FF). In coarse-grained there is more logic (e.g. 4-INPUT LUT + MUXes + FFs + fast carry logic). Fine grained require more connections (they might be ok for very irregular logic as in state machines. For this reason, most FPGAs are coarse or medium-grained. Programming an FPGA: FPGA can be programmed through various technologies like fusible-link, anti-fuse, SRAMbased, FLASH-based. Fusible link: The idea is that of building the device with a bunch of fuses and all the fuses are initially intact. The process of removing fuses (eliminating the connections) is referred to as programming the device.

Anti-fuse Technologies: Similarly to fuse, but in this case we have missing connections everywhere, and when we program, some connections are generated. It is more easily integratable with existing manufacturing processes, so they were preferred to fuse. The technology uses an amorphous silicon column (non conductive) that can be converted to a polysilicon via by applying a sufficiently large current through. Disadvantage of anti-fuse is that programming physically modifies the device forcing it to assume a non-further modifiable configuration. Devices based on this technology are One Time Programmable (OTP). This might be a bad choice if you want to reuse the device for prototyping different designs. It has the advantage that the new connections are not adding much delay (low resistivity wires). Only few devices nowadays use anti-fuse.

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

EEPROM/FLASH based Technology: EEPROM is electrically erasable and programmable. EEPROM is 2.5 times larger than equivalent EPROM cell. Flash reflects the fast erasure technology compared to EPROM. Using FLASH guarantees re-programmability, but at the same time non-volatility. Furthermore the manufacturing process is more standard than anti-fuses.

SRAM-based Technology: Static Random Access Memory is one of the two types of RAM. Programming is achieved by storing a programming bit in a static RAM cell, that controls a switch (in the simplest case a MOS transistor). If the bit is 1, the switch is closed, if it is 0 the switch is open. The advantage of SRAM-based programming is that the same device can be reconfigured an indefinite amount of time, as the configuration is stored in a memory cell that can be rewritten. The main disadvantage is that programming has to occur every time the device is powered up, thus delaying the startup of the system. It also increases area and delay (a SRAM+MOS is much larger than a poly via and introduces larger delay). SRAM-based FPGAs are the dominant FPGAs (Xilinx, Altera).

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Comparison of Different Technology Types Feature

Technology Reprogrammable Reprogramming speed (including erasing) Volatile (must be programmed on power- up) Requires external configuration file Good for prototyping Instant on Size of configuration cell Power consumption

SRAM
State-of-the-art Yes (in system) Fast Yes Yes Yes (very good) No Large (six transistors) Medium

Anti-fuse
One or more generation behind No No No No Yes Very small Low

E2PROM / FLASH
One or more generation behind Yes (in-system or offline) 3 x slower than SRAM No No Yes (reasonable) Yes Medium-small (two transistors) Medium

Types of FPGA FPGAs can be categorized as: Anti-fuse/fuse-based (e.g. Actel) SRAM-based (e.g. Xilinx, Altera) SRAM based FPGAs are most popular due to speed and reconfigurable feature. World popular Xilinx FPGA is typically an SRAM-based device. SRAM-based FPGA Can be programmed many times Must be programmed at power up, usually by means of external memory. Can be made secured by encrypting configuration bit stream. SRAM based FPGAs are most popular due to speed and reconfigurable feature

Anti-fuse based FPGA Only program off-line Non-volatile (configuration remains when power off) No additional memory, reduce cost Immune to radiant and noise Very low power consumption Less area utilizes as SRAM based devices Extra programming circuitry required Main disadvantage, OTP. Hence SRAM used mostly

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Configuring FPGAs: Configuring an FPGA consists in loading" the correct bits in the various programmable parts of the device, that are: LUTs, inter-block connections, switchboxes, input/output selections, etc. Irrespective of the type of technology, this means that large quantities of configuration bits need to be transferred to the device. There are multiple techniques that guarantee such transfer. Configuring an Anti-fuse device: Needs a special device programmer to which the device is attached and is in turn connected to a computer that uploads the configuration file. All the anti-fuses to be activated are accessed sequentially and burned". Of course the programming cannot be done in-system (on the final utilization board) because of the need of the special programmer, and furthermore no reprogramming is possible. This is the easiest configuration technique. Configuring an SRAM based FPGA: Because the device loses its configuration at every power-off, more complicated strategies are necessary to make sure that programming can be performed \in-system" every power-on cycle (or possibly even multiple times during a single session). An adequate representation of the configuration logic is that of a very long shift register that connects in a chain all the programming bits and can be accessed externally through a serial input and a serial output. Clearly, such serial programming can take a long time (e.g. if the bits are 25M and the programming clock is 25MHz, it will take a second (ages from a digital perspective!). Note that if a LUT is used as a distributed RAM or a shift register, it can be reset to any preferred initial value. Similarly, the e-RAMs make part of the programming bits and can be initialized. In many cases, multiple chains are in fact present that can be selectively programmed. This allows interesting tricks such as configure only portions of the device. A quick reinitialization is typically possible for the FFs. This of course does not re-initializes the eRAMs or d-RAMs (those original bits are lost"). Configuration Modes: In general, from the external interface, various modes of configuration are possible. The desired mode is selected using dedicated configuration pins (typically 3): Serial Load with FPGA as Master: The configuration is stored in an external PROM (now typically a dedicated FLASH device). Such PROM has a single data-out pin that is hardwired to the programming data input of the FPGA. The FPGA provides a reset and a clock that indicates to the PROM to start sequentially outputing its content. In this configuration, if multiple devices need to be programmed, the data output from the Master FPGA can be connected to the data input of the following, so that a single PROM will suffice for the whole board. The successive FPGAs in the daisy chain will have to be configured as Slaves. Parallel Load with FPGA as Master: To speed-up configuration times, data is parallel (8-bits or more). In this case the FPGA also provides the address to the

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

PROM that does not need to be a special device. This technique was therefore very popular at the beginning of the FPGA times, when dedicated devices were expensive. Nowadays, there are special devices that do not require the address from the FPGA. Parallel Load with FPGA as Slave: In this case the control of the transfer is handed to an external device, for example a microprocessor that generates all necessary control signals. The advantage is that the microprocessor can choose the specific configuration file to program, and therefore adapt the FPGA to the system's needs. Serial Load with FPGA as Slave: The microprocessor (or other device) still reads the programming bits from the memory, but then serializes them into a 1-bit input. This also allows a daisy chaining of FPGAs with the first used as master. In the case of the use of a microprocessor, the advantage is that fewer pins of the FPGA are hardwired for configuration, so that can be used for general purpose I/O. JTAG Programming: Most FPGAs are also furnished with a JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) interface that is traditionally used to facilitate device testing by implementing boundary scan. In FPGAs, additional JTAG commands allow them to connect the configuration chain to the JTAG chain, thus in fact allowing programming through JTAG Embedded Processor: It is possible to connect the embedded processor JTAG to the external JTAG chain, so that the configuration could start by configuring the core, and then leaving it the responsibility to complete the configuration of the device

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Structure of FPGA
A Xilinx Logic CELL: The core building block in a modern FPGA from Xilinx is called Logic Cell (LC). It is the most elementary programmable logic element in a Xilinx device. It is composed by a 4-input LUT, can also act as 16x1 RAM and 16-Bit SR Latch. Spartan-3 has 4-input LUT. Multiplexer Flip-Flop and Clock, clock enable, set/reset and two outputs (registered and non-registered).

SLICE: The next step up the hierarchy is the Slice. A Slice contains two Logic Cells. LUT & MUX have separate inputs and outputs. Each LC in a slice shares the control inputs (like set/reset, clock and clock enable).

10

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs): Multiple slices are grouped in one configurable logic block (CLB). Each CLB can contain two or four slices. CLB is a single configurable logic block connected to other CLBs using programmable interconnect. The logic block hierarchy is as follow: LC --------> Slice (2 LC) ---------> CLB (4 slices) The reason for this hierarchy is that interconnects between LCs in the slice are more faster, then slightly slower interconnects between slices in CLB to connect neighboring slices, followed by the interconnects between CLBs.

Embedded RAMs: A lot of applications require the use of memory. FPGA includes a relatively large chunks of embedded RAM called block RAM. The capacity of the block RAM can be varied from few hundred thousands bits to several million bits depending on the chip. The block can be used for a variety of purposes.

11

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Embedded Multipliers, Adders, MACs, etc: Some functions like multipliers are slow if they are implemented by connecting a large number of programmable logic blocks together, therefore many FPGA incorporate special hardwired multiplier blocks. Some FPGAs provide imbedded adder blocks, and it may includes and imbedded MAC (Multiply and Accumulate)

General-Purpose I/O: FPGA Packages can have up to 1000 or more pins, arranged across the base of the package. General Purpose I/O signals of FPGA are divided into a number of Banks. Each Bank can be configured individually to support a particular I/O standard.

12

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

IP core (intellectual property core) An IP (intellectual property) core is a block of logic or data that is used in making a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for a product. As essential elements of design reuse, IP cores are part of the growing electronic design automation (EDA) industry trend towards repeated use of previously designed components. Ideally, an IP core should be entirely portable i.e. able to easily be inserted into any vendor technology or design methodology. Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (UARTs), central processing units (CPUs), Ethernet controllers, and PCI interfaces are all examples of IP cores. IP cores fall into one of three categories: hard cores, firm cores, or soft cores. Hard cores Built-in resources Cannot modify design Speed and size cannot be enhanced Device dependent Best suited for plug-and-play applications Less portable and flexible Example: Block RAM, Multiplier, Power PC etc. Soft Core Fully flexible Design can be modified Device Independent Code can be modified Example: Divider, UART, Microcontroller, Microblaze etc. Firm Core Partially flexible

13

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

Design could not be modified Implementation could be modified Features of Soft & Hard cores FPGA Characteristics In Brief, FPGAs can be specified, and compared using the following: Number of Logic Cells (number of 4-input LUTs and associated flip-flop). Number (and size) of embedded RAM blocks Number (and size) of embedded Multipliers. Number (and size) of embedded adders. Number (and size) of MACs (Multiply and Accumulate). Availability of Hardware embedded Microprocessor Cores Number of inputs and Number of pins etc.

FPGA Manufacturers FPGA devices are produced by a number of semiconductor companies like: Xilinx o Spartan Series o Virtex Series Actel Altera Atmel Lattice and Quick Logic FPGA Device Families

Spartan-3 Package

14

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

University College of Engineering & Technology

15

FPGA Based System Design (Telecommuniction Engineering)