Basic Question about FPGA

[vizard356]

are fpga rewritable

I am new to VLSI and FPGA. I have one question.

Suppose i buy some FPGA kit and then implement RAM(or some logic) in FPGA.

Now if i want to implement something else do i have to buy new FPGA or i can use one FPGA like re-writable CD.

thank you

 

[Iouri]

FPGA it more like a computer memory when you power on you need to load data, when you power down your data is gone

 

[nxtech]

Please spend some time either doing a search on this site or reading the very detailed documents that are available on FPGA supplier websites.

E

 

[vizard356]

Please spend some time either doing a search on this site or reading the very detailed documents that are available on FPGA supplier websites.

E

yes u r right. i read Degilent Nexys board Degilent Nexys board manual there are lot of information available on the product manuals.
anyway thanx.



But my question is that what if i want to use FPGA stand alone means not on the FPGA kit but with other custom circuit i designed.

 

[gck]

FPGA is RAM based technology. Even if you want to use it for any custome design you have you need to have PROM with that. You can reuse it. But as soon as you power off the circuitary that will loose the program and for next start it has to get booted through the PROM You will attach.

Both FPGA and PROM can be burned through same kit.

 

[vizard356]

FPGA is RAM based technology. Even if you want to use it for any custome design you have you need to have PROM with that. You can reuse it. But as soon as you power off the circuitary that will loose the program and for next start it has to get booted through the PROM You will attach.

Both FPGA and PROM can be burned through same kit.

That means whatever i design it will be first loaded in the PROM which is programmable. so if i make different design for my project i need not have to buy different FPGA to implement them individually i can use same FPGA.

 

[wangkaust]

Yes, You can use one FPGA like re-writable CD.

 

[rameshabng]

One FPGA can be reused for as many designs u want. as name only suggests it is field programmable gate array. it can be reused by just by programming

 

[Nabil Noaman]

Notice that all Xilinx FPGAs use SRAM to store the interconnects,
so are reprogrammable,
but volatile (thus requiring external ROM). On the other hand,
Actel FPGAs are non-volatile (they use antifuse),
but are non-reprogrammable (except one family, which uses Flash memory).
Since each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages,
the actual application will dictate which chip architecture is most
appropriate.

 

[echo47]

Xilinx now has a family of FPGAs with built-in non-volatile flash:
https://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon_solutions/fpgas/spartan_series/spartan3an_fpgas/index.htm

 

[rajsrikanth]

FPGA,s are reprogrammable and can can be programmed again and again. it is not like ASIC. as u said it is like rewritable CD. and u need to have software like XILINX for programming and erasing and again programming

 

[vinodkumar]

hi,FPGA itself is a programmable ASIC.u can reprogram at any time,by generating new bit file.

 

[vikrant.eda]

Notice that all Xilinx FPGAs use SRAM to store the interconnects,
so are reprogrammable,
but volatile (thus requiring external ROM). On the other hand,
Actel FPGAs are non-volatile (they use antifuse),
but are non-reprogrammable (except one family, which uses Flash memory).
Since each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages,
the actual application will dictate which chip architecture is most
appropriate.

u can use a fpga llike a rewrittable cd.
U can use fpga which is reprogrammable and non-volatile from Lattice .
Plz find the latticesemi.com site for further details.