Understanding The Vertical And Horizontal Directions Of FPGA

Understanding the Vertical and Horizontal Directions of FPGA

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are integrated circuits (ICs) that can be programmed after manufacture. They are used in a wide range of applications, from digital signal processing (DSP) to high-performance computing (HPC). In FPGA designs, vertical and horizontal directions are separated by the routing architecture. Understanding these directions and how they affect the design is essential for successful FPGA implementation.

What is FPGA?

A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit (IC) that can be programmed after manufacture to alter its function. It is composed of logic blocks and routing resources. FPGAs are used in a wide range of applications, including digital signal processing (DSP), embedded systems, and high-performance computing (HPC).

Understanding the Vertical and Horizontal Directions of FPGA

In FPGA designs, the vertical and horizontal directions are separated by the routing architecture. The vertical direction is the “columns” of the FPGA and corresponds to the physical layout of the logic blocks. The horizontal direction is the “rows” of the FPGA and corresponds to the routing resources. It is important to understand the differences between these directions, as they can have an effect on the design.

Vertical Direction

The vertical direction of an FPGA corresponds to the physical layout of the logic blocks. It is the direction that runs along the columns of the FPGA. In this direction, the logic blocks are connected to each other in series, forming a single “column” of logic. This column of logic can then be connected to other columns of logic. This is the direction in which the logic blocks are programmed and is used to define the logic of the FPGA.

Horizontal Direction

The horizontal direction of an FPGA corresponds to the routing resources. This is the direction that runs along the rows of the FPGA. In this direction, the routing resources are connected in parallel, forming a single “row” of resources. This row of resources can then be connected to other rows of resources. This is the direction in which the routing resources are used to connect the logic blocks.

Separating the Directions

The vertical and horizontal directions of an FPGA are separated by the routing architecture. The routing architecture is responsible for connecting the logic blocks and routing resources in the two directions. It is important to understand this separation, as it can have an effect on the design. For example, if a signal needs to travel from one logic block to another, it must first be routed through the routing resources in the horizontal direction before being routed through the logic blocks in the vertical direction.

Conclusion

FPGAs are powerful integrated circuits that can be programmed after manufacture to alter their function. In FPGA designs, the vertical and horizontal directions are separated by the routing architecture. It is important to understand the differences between these directions

  • Engineering