FPGAs: World Class Designs
All the design and development inspiration and direction a harware engineer needs in one blockbuster book! Clive "Max" Maxfield renowned author, columnist, and editor of PL DesignLine has selected the very best FPGA design material from the Newnes portfolio and has compiled it into this volume. The result is a book covering the gamut of FPGA design from design fundamentals to optimized layout techniques with a strong pragmatic emphasis. In addition to specific design techniques and practices, this book also discusses various approaches to solving FPGA design problems and how to successfully apply theory to actual design tasks. The material has been selected for its timelessness as well as for its relevance to contemporary FPGA design issues.
Contents
Chapter 1 Alternative FPGA Architectures
Chapter 2 Design Techniques, Rules, and Guidelines
Chapter 3 A VHDL Primer: The Essentials
Chapter 4 Modeling Memories
Chapter 5 Introduction to Synchronous State Machine Design and Analysis
Chapter 6 Embedded Processors
Chapter 7 Digital Signal Processing
Chapter 8 Basics of Embedded Audio Processing
Chapter 9 Basics of Embedded Video and Image Processing
Chapter 10 Programming Streaming FPGA Applications Using Block Diagrams In Simulink
Chapter 11 Ladder and functional block programming
Chapter 12 Timers
*Hand-picked content selected by Clive "Max" Maxfield, character, luminary, columnist, and author
*Proven best design practices for FPGA development, verification, and low-power
*Case histories and design examples get you off and running on your current project
Why Read This Book
You will get a curated collection of field-proven FPGA design techniques and case studies that bridge theory and hands-on implementation. You will learn pragmatic approaches to timing closure, floorplanning, resource optimization and system integration that you can apply directly to real projects.
Who Will Benefit
Intermediate FPGA designers and embedded systems engineers who need practical, implementation-focused guidance on timing, layout, and optimization.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic digital logic and familiarity with an HDL (Verilog or VHDL) plus some experience with an FPGA synthesis/simulation toolflow.
Key Takeaways
- Apply proven floorplanning and placement strategies to improve timing and routability.
- Reduce power and resource usage through pragmatic optimization techniques.
- Achieve timing closure using constraints, synthesis directives, and incremental flows.
- Integrate DSP blocks and soft processors into FPGA designs while understanding trade-offs.
- Use vendor toolflows and verification practices effectively to validate complex designs.
Topics Covered
- Preface and how to use this anthology
- FPGA architectures and device selection
- HDL coding styles and design-for-synthesis
- Synthesis, constraints and tool flows
- Timing analysis and timing-closure strategies
- Floorplanning, placement and routing techniques
- Power optimization and thermal considerations
- High-speed I/O, SERDES and signal integrity
- DSP techniques and using dedicated DSP resources
- Embedded processors, soft cores and system integration
- Verification, simulation and hardware debug
- World-class case studies and practical examples
- Resources, references and further reading
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
Compared with hands-on, example-driven texts like Pong P. Chu's 'FPGA Prototyping' (which walks you step-by-step through projects), Maxfield's volume is a curated anthology of expert essays and case studies emphasizing pragmatic techniques and high-level trade-offs.
