Ebook: Fundamentals of Parallel Computing

FIELD PROGRAMMABLE GATE ARRAY (FPGAs) belong to the family of programmable logic devices and designing with FPGAs require knowledge of digital design. The book begins with an overview of Boolean Algebra and Logic Design followed by topics on Programmable Logic Devices. Introduction to Field programmable devices is then explained right from the basic FPGA which was used as glue logic to present day very advanced FPGA used in Embedded Systems including military and space applications. Further, it goes on to discuss the evolution of Xilinx, Altera/Intel and Actel/Microsemi FPGAs and their architectural features, and includes many design examples in VHDL and a brief introduction to System Verilog. The last three chapters discuss the Xilinx FPGA design flow completely from architectural specification to obtaining a bit stream to be loaded into the FPGA.Testing methodologies and design exercises using Spartan Series and the important research issues of FPGA Security along with the Future of FPGAs for the next two decades are described as well.