In the last decade, ASICs (application
specific ICs) and DSPs have been deployed
to handle nearly all the signal
processing functions associated with radio
communications. Even though field-programmable
gate arrays have been around for
decades, the latest generation of FPGAs is so
powerful that it is now displacing both
ASICs and DSPs in the latest software radio
applications. Furthermore, a new class of
design tools opens up FPGAs to both hardware
and software engineers. Debugging
these new devices has been greatly simplified
by excellent modeling and analysis tools.
Perhaps the most exciting new twist in
design tools is the growing libraries of IP
(intellectual property) cores available from
FPGA vendors, and a whole new industry
of third party companies that offer IP cores
for specific application areas.
Access the entire document on the Pentek, Inc. website.
