The ForgeFPGA family will meet the market demand for a relatively small amount of programmable logic that can be quickly and efficiently designed into cost-sensitive applications. A series of new low-cost, low-power devices from Renesas Electronics Corporation entered the FPGA market
With an expected price of under $0.50, it opens up applications that previously could not use FPGas due to cost factors, including high-volume consumer and Iot applications. The device offers significant cost savings compared to other alternatives, including non-FPGA designs. By providing a high level of integration, they reduce overall board and system costs.
The software provides two development modes to support new and experienced FPGA developers: one is "macro unit mode", which employs a development process based on schematic capture, and the other is "HDL" mode, which provides FPGA developers with a familiar Verilog environment. This series will help applications that require less than 5000 logic gates, with initial device sizes of 1K and 2K LUTs. The first devices are expected to have less than 20uA standby power, about half that of competing devices. Users can download the development software for free and do not have to pay a license fee
The new FPgas will use the same business model and infrastructure as the GreenPAK line: free, easy-to-use software, no licensing fees, and global application support. This model has proven to be very successful, with billions of GreenPAK devices shipped amid continued growth. The family's development team, which launched the highly successful GreenPAK programmable mixed signal device at Silego Technology, recently joined Renesas's portfolio as part of the Dialog Semiconductor acquisition.
Steve Leibson, principal analyst at TIRIAS Research, said: "It's exciting to see an established semiconductor vendor like Renesas tackle a long-neglected part of the FPGA market: Small, low-cost FPGas that consume microwatts in standby mode." Programmable device maker Silego acquired Dialog earlier this year, and Renesas seems determined to repeat Silego's previous success with its ultra-low-end GreenPAK line of programmable mixed-signal devices and ultra-simple design tools, This time it's at the low end of the FPGA line that will attract many companies that only need a little programmable logic (about a thousand gates) to work on a myriad of products including billions of embedded sensors and iot devices."
"We are eager to extend our leadership in the small, low-cost, programmable market to FPgas," said Davin Lee, vice president of mixed signals in Renesas' Electronic Iot and Infrastructure business Unit. "We know from experience and direct conversations that these devices will appeal to companies large and small in many markets around the world."
