Next-Generation Computer Aided Design Flow Challenges for Field Programmable Gate Arrays

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Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are an alternative to custom chip design; they can be configured, in the field, to implement any circuit. Modern FPGAs contain a reconfigurable array of Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), embedded hard Intellectual Property (IP) blocks, and a programmable routing fabric and have one of the highest transistor counts per device. They use the same leading-edge process technology that is otherwise only used by computer processor companies (e.g. Intel, NVIDIA). The latest devices from Altera and Xilinx are fabricated with 28nm process technology with transistor counts of 3.9 and 6.8 billion, respectively. For many companies, FPGAs provide sufficient capacity and speed, allowing the company go "fabless" to avoid the expensive and time consuming services of a foundry.