FROM EDN EUROPE: FPGA adds ADC to yield mixed-signal single chip
by Graham Prophet -- EDN, January 5, 2006
Describing the product as the "first mixed-signal FPGA", Actel has integrated a block of its pASIC-3 flash FPGA along with an A/D converter, analogue inputs and MOSFET output drivers, further flash memory and additional analogue functions, on a single chip it calls the "Fusion" device. With it, you can build a complete system that accepts analogue inputs in the ±12V range, performs A/D conversion at up to 600k samples/sec and 12 bits, and employs the FPGA array for logic processing. If a processor is needed, you can embed an 8051 or an ARM7 in the FPGA. You can generate switching outputs to drive external MOSFETs to control real-world systems. With this capability, Actel suggests that single-chip implementations of functions such as temperature control and complex voltage monitoring/sequencing, as well as motor control, are suitable targets for the device. Other on-chip analogue functions include a voltage regulator, and a clock oscillator. A range of parts spans 90k to 1500k "system gates" using Actel's previous conventions in counting gates. The second part in the range (250k gates) will support a fully-featured 8051 core or a "skinny" ARM 7. Pricing ranges from $4.95 in high volumes to $50 for the largest part. All parts have one ADC, with a multiplexer to sample multiple channels. All the features of p-ASIC-3 continue in this variant, including security of configuration code and "instant-on".
Actel, www.actel.com.
