History of FPGA and Its Invention by Xilinx

Semiconductor Devices which are founded around a matrix of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) and linked through programmable interconnects known as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). These semiconductors can be reprogrammed for the intended applications and operational necessities after manufacture. Because of this distinctive feature, FPGAs are different from Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). ASICs are custom made for particular applications. Though one-time programmable (OTP) FPGAs are there, most types are based on SRAM which can be reprogrammed as the design advances.

ASIC and FPGAs have various value propositions, and they require to be carefully assessed before choosing anyone over the other. Information is easily available about comparison between these two technologies. Today’s FPGAs thrust the 500MHz performance hurdle without any problem, though FPGAs used to be chosen for lower volume/speed/complexity design traditionally. With unprecedented logic density increases and a host of other features, such as embedded processors, DSP blocks, clocking, and high-speed serial at ever lower price points, FPGAs are an enthralling choice for nearly any type of design.

PROM (Programmable Logic Devices) and PLD (Programmable Logic Devices) are the two fields which FPGA industry germinated from. Both of these had the course of action of being programmed in groups in a factory of in the field (in case of the field programmable). Nevertheless, programmable logic was permanently connected within logic gates.

At the last of 1980s, Steve Casselman proposed for an experiment to build a computer which would apply six lacs re-programmable gates. This experiment was funded by the Naval Surface Warfare Center. A patent concerned to the system was issued in 1992 after a successful test by Casselman.

Patents were awarded to David W. Page and LuVerne R. Peterson in 1985 in which many of the industry's foundational concepts and technologies for programmable logic arrays, gates, and logic blocks were established.

In 1983, Altera was established and brought the industry’s maiden reprogrammable logic device in 1984 – the EP300–which had a extra feature of quartz window in the package which allowed users to shine an ultra-violet lamp on the die to erase the EPROM cells that held the device configuration.

The XC2064- the first commercially viable field-programmable gate array invented in 1985 by Xilinx co-founders Ross Freeman and Bernard Vonderschmitt.

From technical aspect, any computable problem can be solved using field programmable gate arrays. It is trivially cleared by the reality that a soft microprocessor can be implemented by FPGA. Their benefit keeps in that they are sometimes notably quicker for a number of applications because of their parallel characteristic and optimality in terms of the number of gates utilized for a particular method.

FPGAs are perfectly suitable for various markets. Being the pioneer in the industry, Xilinx offers extensive solutions comprising FPGA devices, advanced software, and configurable, ready-to-use IP cores for markets and applications such as: Aerospace & Defense, ASIC Prototyping, Audio, Automotive, Broadcast, Consumer Electronics, Data Center, High Performance Computing and Data Storage, Industrial, Medical, Security, Video and image processing, wired communication and wireless communication.