ABSTRACT
Digital systems can be implemented using several hardware technologies. Programmable logic devices such as complex programmable logic device (CPLD) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) require user configuration or programming to implement the desired function. Full custom very large scale integrated (VLSI) devices are internally hardwired and optimized to perform a fixed function. The design of a full custom VLSI device at the transistor level requires several years of engineering effort for design, testing, and fabrication. Higher densities, improved performance, and cost advantages have enabled the use of programmable logic devices in a wider variety of designs. FPGAs are the highest density and most advanced programmable logic devices. The size of CPLDs and FPGAs is typically described in terms of useable or equivalent gates. Intellectual property (IP) cores are widely used in large designs. IP cores are commercial hardware designs that provide often used operations.
