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Forum: DSP Exploring eFPGA Integration in Modern Embedded Systems


von Eric (lilduck)


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I'm currently exploring the potential of integrating embedded FPGAs 
(eFPGA) into modern embedded systems. Given their reconfigurability and 
adaptability, eFPGAs seem like a promising solution for enhancing system 
flexibility and performance. However, I'm curious about the practical 
challenges and benefits of incorporating eFPGA into embedded designs.

For instance, how does the inclusion of eFPGA compare with traditional 
ASIC or microcontroller approaches in terms of power consumption, cost, 
and development time? Additionally, what are the current limitations of 
eFPGA technology that developers should be aware of?

I'm also interested in hearing about any specific use cases where eFPGAs 
have proven to be particularly advantageous. Whether it’s for custom 
data processing, offloading tasks from the main processor, or adapting 
to changing standards, I'm keen to learn more from those who have 
hands-on experience with this technology.

https://www.icdrex.com/what-is-embedded-fpga-efpga/

von Simon R. (simru)


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You just want to promote your site and spread your opinion and have no 
idea what FPGAs are.

An "embedded" FPGA is nothing more than programmable logic integrated 
into a so-called system on a chip. This allows the FPGA to be used in 
just as many applications and offer better performance, flexibility and 
versatility as the normal one. There is no differenc. In the opposite:

By using an FPGA within an SoC, the size and cost of the device can be 
not allways reduced and also the performance is not automatically 
improved, because of power dissipation issues and more. The FPGA can not 
as easily be programmed to implement user-defined logic functions, and 
it can has problems be used as an interface to other chips, because 
mostly they are not on the SoC but have to be additionally placesd!

One of the supposed main advantages of an embedded FPGA, its 
flexibility, is also very relative!  While integrating the FPGA into an 
SoC theoretically reduces the size and cost of the device and allows new 
functions to be added quickly and easily without having to redesign the 
entire system, this is just as true of the normal FPGA!  This is because 
it can also be programmed to implement user-defined logic functions and 
be used as an interface to other chips, which are usually not on the SoC 
as said.

In this way, complex systems can theoretically be realized on a single 
chip, but this does not really reduce costs if the individual parts are 
cheaper.

The supposed advantage of these "FPGAs", this site is proclaming inamely 
the ability to be reconfigured during operation, is much easier with 
external components. Non-embedded FPGAs therefore often enable faster 
prototyping, as the FPGA can be quickly and easily swapped to implement 
more logic functions than originally planned. This is not possible with 
a finished SOC!  In this way, new designs are quickly written in record 
time, but not developed faster and not tested at all, which can 
significantly increase the time and cost of design and development.

This so far!

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