Chapter 1 - Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the book on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) fundamentals. Effective design-flow optimization requires addressing the trade-offs between additional project risk and associated schedule reduction. This balance is likely to vary among projects. To efficiently implement a project with an optimized design-flow system, engineering decisions become even more important because these key decisions affect every subsequent design phase. It is important to understand the design phases, their order, their relationships, and the decisions that must be made in each of these phases. This book attempts to address these topics. Each topic is addressed with a technology overview, practical advice on design implementation issues, and potential approaches to common decisions and issues. The focus is on helping design teams implement FPGA-based design efficiently and rapidly. Rapid system prototyping and design described in the book is based on an efficient, repeatable design process that is free from avoidable mistakes and unnecessary design efforts.