FPGA Reconfigurable Hardware "Key in todays fast moving
electronics market are time to market, flexibility and
performance" In recent years BEAM has been involved in the
development of systems that utilise reconfigurable hardware.
Specifically field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
Programmable hardware has been around for many years. The
earliest parts were often used to 'soak up' simple standard
fixed functionality 'glue logic'. In recent year the
technologies have progressed very rapidly such that now complete
systems on a chip (SoC) can be envisaged, all fully
reconfigurable. Traditional fixed systems with high development
and tooling costs were confined to volume manufacture. The
flexibility and capability of the these new devices open
interesting avenues for development in small to medium
manufacturing volumes. The functionality of a reconfigurable
hardware part is defined by specifically developed 'software'.
Development is usually in one of the hardware definitions
languages such as Verilog or VHDL.