Digital Systems Design with FPGAs and CPLDs
This textbook explains how to design and develop digital electronic systems using programmable logic devices (PLDs). Totally practical in nature, the book features numerous (quantify when known) case study designs using a variety of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLD), for a range of applications from control and instrumentation to semiconductor automatic test equipment.
Key features include:
* Case studies that provide a walk through of the design process, highlighting the trade-offs involved.
* Discussion of real world issues such as choice of device, pin-out, power supply, power supply decoupling, signal integrity- for embedding FPGAs within a PCB based design.
With this book engineers will be able to:
* Use PLD technology to develop digital and mixed signal electronic systems
* Develop PLD based designs using both schematic capture and VHDL synthesis techniques
* Interface a PLD to digital and mixed-signal systems
* Undertake complete design exercises from design concept through to the build and test of PLD based electronic hardware
This book will be ideal for electronic and computer engineering students taking a practical or Lab based course on digital systems development using PLDs and for engineers in industry looking for concrete advice on developing a digital system using a FPGA or CPLD as its core.
*Case studies that provide a walk through of the design process, highlighting the trade-offs involved.
*Discussion of real world issues such as choice of device, pin-out, power supply, power supply decoupling, signal integrity- for embedding FPGAs within a PCB based design.
Why Read This Book
You will get a hands-on, system-level view of designing with FPGAs and CPLDs that goes beyond HDL syntax to show how devices are chosen, integrated on a PCB, and brought to a working system. The book's case studies walk you through realistic trade-offs so you can apply the same process to your own projects.
Who Will Benefit
Practicing embedded/hardware engineers or senior students who design with PLDs and need practical guidance on device selection, board integration, synthesis flows, and real-world trade-offs.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic digital logic and circuit knowledge, familiarity with HDL concepts (VHDL or Verilog) and general electronic components; some exposure to synthesis tools is helpful.
Key Takeaways
- Describe the architectures and trade-offs between CPLDs and FPGAs and when to choose each
- Translate system requirements into HDL-based designs and follow the synthesis/place-and-route flow to target devices
- Assess device selection, pinout, packaging and resource constraints for real-world applications
- Integrate FPGAs into PCB designs including power-supply decoupling, I/O buffering and signal-integrity considerations
- Apply practical verification, programming (JTAG/in-system), and testing strategies for PLD-based systems
- Optimize designs for performance, area and power while understanding the implementation limitations of target devices
Topics Covered
- Introduction to Programmable Logic: CPLDs and FPGAs
- Combinational and Sequential Logic Review
- Hardware Description Languages and Design Entry (VHDL/Verilog overview)
- Synthesis, Implementation and Tool Flows
- Comparing CPLD and FPGA Architectures and Families
- Device Selection, Pinout and Packaging Considerations
- Power Supplies, Decoupling and Power Integrity for PLDs
- I/O Considerations and Signal Integrity on PCB
- Timing Analysis, Constraints and Optimization
- Programming, Configuration and In-System Debugging
- Verification, Test and Design-for-Test Techniques
- Case Studies: Walkthroughs of Complete PLD-Based Systems
- Appendices: Practical Tips, Component Selection and Example Tool Flows
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
More system- and board-integration focused than Pong P. Chu's FPGA Prototyping books (which emphasize HDL coding and hands-on examples); complements broader digital design texts (e.g., Brown & Vranesic) by adding PLD selection and PCB integration detail.
