Field-programmable analog array: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Integrated device containing configurable analog blocks and interconnects between these blocks}}

A '''field-programmable analog array''' ('''FPAA''') is an [[Integrated circuit|integrated circuit device]] containing computational [[Analog signal|analog]] blocks (CABs)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Tyson |last2=Twigg |first2=Christopher |last3=Hassler |first3=Paul |last4=Anderson |first4=David |title=2004 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37512) |chapter=Application performance of elements in a floating-gate FPAA |date=2004 |volume= |pages=589–592 |doi=10.1109/ISCAS.2004.1329340 |isbn=0-7803-8251-X |s2cid=17212868 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baskaya |first1=F. |last2=Reddy |first2=S. |last3=Sung |first3=Kyu Lim |last4=Anderson |first4=D.V. |title=Placement for large-scale floating-gate field-programable analog arrays |journal=IEEE Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Systems |date=August 2006|volume=14 |issue=8 |pages=906–910 |url=https://www.computer.org/csdl/trans/si/2006/08/01664910-abs.html|doi=10.1109/TVLSI.2006.878477 |s2cid=16583629 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and interconnects between these blocks offering [[field-programmability]]. Unlike their [[Digital signal|digital]] cousin, the [[Field-programmable gate array|FPGA]], the devices tend to be more application driven than general purpose as they may be [[Current-mode logic|current mode]] or voltage mode devices. For voltage mode devices, each block usually contains an [[operational amplifier]] in combination with programmable configuration of passive components. The blocks can, for example, act as [[Analog adder|summers]] or [[integrator]]s.

FPAAs usually operate in one of two modes: [[Discrete time and continuous time|''continuous time'' and ''discrete time'']].

*''Discrete-time devices'' possess a [[Clock signal|system sample clock]]. In a [[switched capacitor]] design, all blocks sample their input signals with a [[sample and hold]] circuit composed of a semiconductor switch and a capacitor. This feeds a programmable [[Operational amplifier|op amp]] section which can be routed to a number of other blocks. This design requires more complex [[semiconductor]] construction. An alternative, switched-current design, offers simpler construction and does not require the input capacitor, but can be less accurate, and has lower [[fan-out]] - it can drive only one following block. Both discrete-time device types must compensate for switching noise, aliasing at the system sample rate, and sample-rate limited bandwidth, during the design phase.

*''Continuous-time devices'' work more like an array of [[transistor]]s or op amps which can operate at their full [[Bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]]. The components are connected in a particular arrangement through a configurable array of switches. During [[circuit design]], the switch matrix's [[Parasitic element (electrical networks)|parasitic]] inductance, capacitance and [[Noise (signal processing)|noise]] contributions must be taken into account.

Currently there are very few manufactures of FPAAs. On-chip resources are still very limited when compared to that of an FPGA. This resource deficit is often cited by researchers as a limiting factor in their research.

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The term ''FPAA'' was first used in 1991 by Lee and Gulak.<ref name="1 Lee and Gulak">{{cite journal |author=E. K. F. Lee |author2=P. G. Gulak |date=December 1991 |title=A CMOS Field-programmable analog array |journal=IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits |volume=26 |issue=12 |pages=1860–1867 |doi=10.1109/4.104162|bibcode=1991IJSSC..26.1860L |s2cid=5323561 }}</ref> They put forward the concept of CABs that are connected via a routing network and configured digitally. Subsequently, in 1992{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} and 1995<ref name="3 Lee and Gulak">{{cite book|chapter=A transconductor-based field-programmable analog array|doi=10.1109/ISSCC.1995.535521|isbn=0-7803-2495-1|year=1995|last1=Lee|first1=E.K.F.|last2=Gulak|first2=P.G.|title=Proceedings ISSCC '95 - International Solid-State Circuits Conference |pages=198–199|s2cid=56613166}}</ref> they further elaborated the concept with the inclusion of op-amps, capacitors, and resistors. This original chip was manufactured using 1.2&nbsp;μm CMOS technology and operates in the 20&nbsp;kHz range at a power consumption of 80&nbsp;mW.

However, the concept of a user-definable analog array dates back 20 years earlier, to the mask-programmable analog "Monochip" invented by the designer of the famous 555 timer chip, Hans Camenzind, and his company Interdesign (later acquired by Ferranti in 1977). The Monochip was the basis for a pioneering line of chips for music synthesizers, sold by Curtis Electromusic (CEM). <ref>{{Cite web |last=matrix |title=Pictures of dead CEM chips |url=https://www.matrixsynth.com/2008/06/pictures-of-dead-cem-chips.html |access-date=2025-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-03 |title=Interdesign, Inc. |url=https://sdiy.info/wiki/Interdesign,_Inc. |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Synth DIY Wiki |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=tluong |date=2012-09-21 |title=Hans Camenzind: Remembering a “Wizard of Analog” |url=https://computerhistory.org/blog/hans-camenzind-remembering-a-wizard-of-analog/?key=hans-camenzind-remembering-a-wizard-of-analog |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=CHM |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.curtiselectromusic.com/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Curtis Electromusic |language=en}}</ref>

Pierzchala et al introduced a similar concept named '''electronically-programmable analog circuit''' ('''EPAC''').<ref name="4 Pierzchala">{{cite book|chapter=Current-mode amplifier/Integrator for a field-programmable analog array|doi=10.1109/ISSCC.1995.535520|isbn=0-7803-2495-1|year=1995|last1=Pierzchala|first1=E.|last2=Perkowski|first2=M.A.|last3=Van Halen|first3=P.|last4=Schaumann|first4=R.|title=Proceedings ISSCC '95 - International Solid-State Circuits Conference |pages=196–197|s2cid=60724962}}</ref> It featured only a single integrator. However, they proposed a local interconnect [[Network architecture|architecture]] in order to try to avoid the bandwidth limitations.

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==See also==

* [[Field-programmable RF]] – Fieldfield programmable radio frequency devices

* [[Complex programmable logic device|Complex programmable logic device (CPLD)]]

* [[PSoC]]: Programmable– Systemprogrammable system-on-Chipchip

* [[Network on a chip|NoC]]: Network– network on a Chipchip

* [[Network architecture]]

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* [http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205916545 "Analog's Answer to FPGA Opens Field to Masses"] Sunny Bains, ''EE Times'', February 21, 2008. Issue 1510.

* [http://opencircuitdesign.com/~tim/research/fpaa/fpaa.html "Field programmable analog arrays"] Tim Edwards, [[Johns Hopkins University]] project, 1999.

* [https://www.imtek.de/professuren/mikroelektronik/forschung/low-power-mixed "Field programmable analog arrays" ] Joachim Becker, et al., [[University of Freiburg]], Department of Microsystems Engineering. Hex FPAA Research Project.

* [https://www.anadigm.com/fpaa.asp] Field programmable analog arrays (FPAAs) from Anadigm

* [http://hasler.ece.gatech.edu/ "Integrated Computational Electronics (ICE) Laboratory"] [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] Project

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