Field-programmable gate array

Architectural Evolution And Design

Modern FPGA families expand upon capabilities to include higher-level functionality fixed in silicon. Examples of these include multipliers, generic DSP blocks, embedded processors, and high-speed I/O logic. Higher-end FPGAs can contain high-speed multi-gigabit transceivers and hard IP cores such as processor cores. These cores exist alongside the programmable fabric but are built out of transistors instead of LUTs. Vendors such as Tabula and Xilinx introduced 3D or stacked architectures to shrink size and power consumption. Xilinx stacks several active FPGA dies side by side on a silicon interposer. This heterogeneous construction allows different parts of the FPGA to be created with different process technologies. Altera uses Intel's embedded multi-die interconnect bridge technology to connect other dies to its monolithic FPGA die.

When did Altera deliver the industry's first reprogrammable logic device?

Altera delivered the industry's first reprogrammable logic device in 1984. The EP300 featured a quartz window that allowed users to shine an ultra-violet lamp on the die to erase EPROM cells.

What is the market share of Xilinx and Altera as of 2016?

In 2016 long-time industry rivals Xilinx and Altera controlled nearly 90 percent of the market. By 2013, Altera, Xilinx, and Actel together represented approximately 77 percent of the FPGA market.

How much did Intel pay to acquire Altera and when was the deal completed?

On the 1st of June 2015, Intel announced it would acquire Altera for approximately US$16.7 billion. The acquisition completed on the 30th of December 2015 before Altera became independent again in February 2024.

Which companies acquired Actel and Atmel respectively?

Microchip acquired Actel in 2018 and Atmel in 2016. Tabula officially shut down on the 24th of March 2015 after announcing their time-multiplexed logic technology in 2010.

When did Microsoft begin using FPGAs to accelerate Bing search engine operations?

Microsoft began using FPGAs to accelerate Bing search engine operations in 2014. They deployed FPGAs across other data center workloads for their Azure cloud computing platform starting in 2018.

Field-programmable gate array.

Architectural Evolution And Design

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Common questions

When did Altera deliver the industry's first reprogrammable logic device?

What is the market share of Xilinx and Altera as of 2016?

How much did Intel pay to acquire Altera and when was the deal completed?

Which companies acquired Actel and Atmel respectively?

When did Microsoft begin using FPGAs to accelerate Bing search engine operations?

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