A small scale FPGAs has been developed by Lattice Semiconductor Corporation that is focused towards portable applications such as medical monitors, smartphones, digital cameras, eReaders, and compact embedded systems.
The company claims its new tiny, low- power, low cost iCE40 LP384 FPGA has a capacity of 384 LUTs with a consumption rate of 25- Microwatts static core power. It also comes in packages as small as 2.5 mm by 2.5 mm with a migration path to 2mm by 2.0mm.
While system footprints continue to shrink, designers must constantly search for new ways to add more functionality so they can process more information,” said Brent Przybus, Senior Director of Corporate and Product Marketing at Lattice Semiconductor.
“The iCE40 LP384 FPGA offers architecture for capturing and processing large amounts of data at hardware speeds while using very little power and board space. It handles system tasks such as managing sensor interfaces, adapting to new interface standards, and offloading the CPU without requiring fully custom-designed chips.”
New applications drive hardware innovation
Small automated control units are now being used to maximise energy efficiency and security in buildings and homes by responding to light, infrared, noise, and by adjusting fans, blinds, and temperature controls. Designers of these types of equipment must find ways to shrink the size of their systems while differentiating their products from competitive market offerings.
This new FPGA includes programmable logic, flexible IO, and on-chip memory for processing data at speeds greater than ASSPs or companion microprocessors while also reducing power consumption.
Semiconductor
