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Steve Knapp
Steve Knapp
Actually, SiliconBlue FPGAs also use static memory configuration cells, just ...
SiliconBlue samples 40-nm FPGAs for tablets
Dylan McGrath
7/11/2011 1:02 AM EDT
First 2.5x2.5-mm BGA package
In April, SiliconBlue disclosed several details about its Los Angeles family—15 devices with footprints of less than 50 square millimeters. The series includes 15 devices all with footprints of less than 50 square millimeters and two main themes; diverse I/O and image processing, SiliconBlue said in a statement. The devices incorporate support for SLIMbus and HSIC and ULPI interface standards.
The Los Angeles LP-Series devices feature the industry's first 2.5 x 2.5-millimeter micro-plastic ball grid array (BGA) packages and provide support for sensor management, high-speed custom connectivity and convergence of HD video and imaging. The Los Angeles HX-Series devices for tablets provide support for sensor management, high-speed custom connectivity and tablet resolution, HD video and imaging. The LP and HX devices feature from 16,000 to 640,000 logic cells each, depending on the specific part.
The iCE40LP8K and iCE40HX8K, 8,000 logic cell, LP–Series and HX–Series devices are available now. The smallest package devices start at $1.99 each in high volume. Most members of the Los Angeles family are expected to be full production by fourth quarter, SiliconBlue said.
SiliconBlue plans to disclose details about its next 40-nm family, codenamed "San Francisco," in the fourth quarter, Shankar said.
In April, SiliconBlue disclosed several details about its Los Angeles family—15 devices with footprints of less than 50 square millimeters. The series includes 15 devices all with footprints of less than 50 square millimeters and two main themes; diverse I/O and image processing, SiliconBlue said in a statement. The devices incorporate support for SLIMbus and HSIC and ULPI interface standards.
The Los Angeles LP-Series devices feature the industry's first 2.5 x 2.5-millimeter micro-plastic ball grid array (BGA) packages and provide support for sensor management, high-speed custom connectivity and convergence of HD video and imaging. The Los Angeles HX-Series devices for tablets provide support for sensor management, high-speed custom connectivity and tablet resolution, HD video and imaging. The LP and HX devices feature from 16,000 to 640,000 logic cells each, depending on the specific part.
The iCE40LP8K and iCE40HX8K, 8,000 logic cell, LP–Series and HX–Series devices are available now. The smallest package devices start at $1.99 each in high volume. Most members of the Los Angeles family are expected to be full production by fourth quarter, SiliconBlue said.
SiliconBlue plans to disclose details about its next 40-nm family, codenamed "San Francisco," in the fourth quarter, Shankar said.
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GREAT-Terry
7/11/2011 9:49 PM EDT
I agree the phase "To differentiate, you have to add hardware features to the devices", but how this FPGA be different from the two big giants - Altera and Xilinx? What actually the FPGA help in improving the hardware features? I guess adding more sensors may also sound.
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Code Monkey
7/12/2011 2:16 PM EDT
SiBlue's FPGAs are essentially antifuse parts, while Altera and Xilinx are mostly SRAM parts. You can only program an antifuse once, but it's a very efficient way to configure FPGA cells.
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KB3001
7/14/2011 11:14 AM EDT
Are you sure their FPGA technology is one-time programmable?
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Steve Knapp
7/19/2011 3:09 PM EDT
Actually, SiliconBlue FPGAs also use static memory configuration cells, just like Xilinx and Altera. Consequently, SiliconBlue FPGAs are reprogrammable.
SiliconBlue FPGAs also have on-chip and *optional* Nonvolatile Configuration Memory (NVCM). The NVCM provides a low-cost and secure configuration option, essentially providing single-chip integration.
You can configure a SiliconBlue FPGA from an SPI Flash, download it from a processor, or use the on-chip NVCM. It's your choice.
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Patk0317
7/13/2011 4:30 PM EDT
Try to find an Altera or Xilinx device for $1.99. They are all about the high end. This is about the low end. You can sell a goodly number of chips into servers with 60% margins, or a gazillion into cell phones with much lower margins.
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Steve Knapp
7/19/2011 3:14 PM EDT
Whats the difference from the two FPGA giants?
How about standby and low-frequence active power consumption measured in MICROamps not tens of milliamps?
How about packaging measuring just a few millimeters square?
How about production prices of a few dollars or less?
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genovalente
7/15/2011 2:37 PM EDT
SiBlue is not antifuse; it is a CMOS FPGA with a non-volatile configuration memory section that allow the single package to boot itself. http://www.siliconbluetech.com/technology/NVCM.aspx
Nice packaging for mobile OEMs, very low power.. as long as the software works well, they have a really nice niche, I think.
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