Gigahertz Reconfigurable Computing Using SiGe HBT BiCMOS FPGAs

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are flexible programmable devices that are used in a wide variety of applications such as network routing, signal processing, pattern recognition and rapid prototyping. Unfortunately, the flexibility of the FPGA hinders its performance due to the additional logic resources required for the programmable hardware. Today’s fastest FPGAs run in the 250 MHz range. This paper proposes a new family of FPGAs utilizing a high-speed SiGe Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) design, co-integrated with CMOS in an IBM BiCMOS process. This device is bit-wise compatible with the Xilinx 6200, with operating frequencies in the 1 to 20 GHz range. All logic and routing in this new design is multiplexer based, eliminating the need for pass transistors, the main roadblock to high speed in today’s FPGAs.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2001
• Where: FPL
• Authors: Bryan S. Goda, Russell P. Kraft, Steven R. Carlough, Thomas W. Krawczyk Jr., John F. McDonald
• Keywords: Flexible Programmable Devices, FPL 2001, Hardware, Programmable Gate Arrays, Today’s Fastest Fpgas