Designing with FPGAs and CPLDs

Description

Choose the right programmable logic devices with this guide to the technologies and internal architectures of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs). This complete reference is written in easy-to-understand language intended for engineers who are planning a CPLD-based or FPGA-based design; managers who need to plan, schedule, and budget a CPLD-based or FPGA-based design; and board-level designers who need to design CPLDs or FPGAs into a product. Experienced designers will find well-structured guidelines for future projects. The author explains the entire procedure for designing these devices from specification through production. Programmable logic devices are explained in an overview, leading up to a detailed description of CPLDs and FPGAs. The various architectures are examined thoroughly along with the tradeoffs - allowing you to decide which particular device is right for your design. Engineers learn about important design, verification, synthesis, and testing issues for producing an optimized and reliable design as well as the different Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools available. Engineering managers learn how to use the step-by-step Universal Design Methodology (UDM) to optimally allocate resources and to schedule and budget the development process accurately.

Bob Zeidman is the president of The Chalkboard Network, an e-learning company for high-tech professionals. He is also president of Zeidman Consulting, a hardware and software contract development firm. Since 1983, he has designed CPLDs, FPGAs, ASI