Seminar on “Digital Logic Design in FPGA and ASIC” by PKE, UiTM Pulau Pinang

The seminar began with an introduction to the basic principles of digital logic design and its critical role in modern electronics. Mr. Kho emphasized that understanding the design flow for FPGA and ASIC is essential for engineers working in various sectors, from consumer electronics to high-performance computing.

Mr. Kho elaborated on the distinct design processes for FPGA and ASIC, highlighting several key differences:

1. Design Flexibility:
   • FPGA: FPGAs are known for their reconfigurability, allowing for post-manufacture modifications. This flexibility makes them ideal for prototyping, research, and applications that require frequent updates.
   • ASIC: ASICs, on the other hand, are custom-designed for specific applications with fixed functionality. Once fabricated, they cannot be altered, but they offer optimized performance for mass production.
2. Development Time:
   • FPGA: The development process for FPGAs is relatively quick, as they bypass the complex fabrication stages required by ASICs. This makes them suitable for projects with tight timelines.
   • ASIC: because of the intricate design validation, tape-out, and manufacturing processes, ASICs require a longer development cycle. However, the performance advantages in large-scale applications justify the time investment.
3. Cost Considerations:
   • FPGA: While FPGAs have higher per-unit costs, they do not involve non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs, making them cost-effective for low- to medium-volume production.
   • ASIC: Although associated with high NRE costs, ASICs have become more economical for large-scale production because of reduced per-unit costs.
4. Performance:
   • FPGA: Because of their reconfigurable nature, FPGAs typically perform less than ASICs. However, recent advancements in FPGA technology have significantly improved their performance, making them viable for various high-performance applications.
   • ASIC: ASICs are optimized for specific functions, delivering superior performance and energy efficiency, particularly in power-sensitive and high-volume applications.

Mr. Kho transitioned to discussing his image processing design implemented on an FPGA. He explained how FPGAs’ parallel processing capabilities make them particularly well-suited for real-time image processing tasks. During the seminar, he demonstrated the application of his image processing design using an FPGA board, showcasing the system’s ability to handle multiple data streams simultaneously—a critical feature for high-speed image processing.

Besides his image processing design, Mr. Kho introduced the LogikHaus LH-SOM-R1.0-XC7A100T-2DDR3-FGG FPGA module, a compact and powerful FPGA solution that he recently completed designing. This module integrates an AMD/Xilinx Artix™ 7 100T FPGA, 2x 2 GByte DDR3 SDRAM with 8-bit width, and 32 MByte Flash memory for configuration and operation, all within a tiny 5 x 5 cm footprint. Mr. Kho highlighted that modules of this form factor are mechanically and electrically compatible, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for a wide range of applications.

The seminar provided a comprehensive understanding of the digital design processes in FPGA and ASIC, emphasizing their respective advantages and challenges. Mr. Kho’s demonstration of his image processing design on FPGA and introduction of the LogikHaus FPGA module underscored the practical applications and innovations in this field. The seminar was informative and inspiring, offering valuable insights to participants interested in advancing their knowledge and skills in digital logic design.