The World’s leading eight FPGA Manufacturers
All the computer programs we run today for several purposes run one fundamental rule – Logic. The programming language and binary configurations we input to make the computer understand our language are all parts of a logical computer program. Computer programs are used for almost everything and include efficient coding using proper computer languages like Python, Java, C, HTML, etc.
For these computer programs to run, we have several hardware components fit inside the computer or its chip whose electrical connections and wirings enable us to execute and run these programs successfully.
To put it in simple words, we can state that computer-related activity we do today, like communication, analytics, survey, etc., combines information technology, electronics, and communication.
About FPGA –
FPGA or Field-programmable Gate Array are small semiconductor devices that act as microprocessors inside the computer. Using customizable interconnections, these FPGAs are built around a matrix of CLBs (configurable logic blocks).
Another electronic device inside the computer is ASIC or Application Specific Integrated Circuits. But there is one demerit of ASIC. They cannot be reprogrammed or customized like the FPGA.
This is the only feature that distinguishes ASIC from FPGA. FPGA can be reprogrammed to desired application or functionality requirements after manufacturing.
However, in the market, we have two types of FPGA – OTP (one-time programmable) and SRAM, which are possible to be reprogrammed several times as the design of the device evolves at every step.
Applications of FPGA –
FPGA has multiple applications across several fields –
- Aerospace and Defense
- ASIC Prototyping
- Automotive
- Broadcast and Pro AV
- Consumer Electronics
- Datacenter
- High-Performance Computing and data storage
- Industrial
- Medical
- Video and Image processing
- Wired and Wireless communication
FGPA History –
FPGA was initially founded in 1983 by a company called Altera Corporation based in California. They delivered the industry’s first reprogrammable logic device, or FGPA, in 1984. This device was known as EP300.
Later in 1985, the co-founders of Xilinx, Ross Freeman, and Bernard Vonderschmitt invented the first commercially viable FGPA, which came to be known as XC2064. Gates could be programmed and interconnected amongst each other, and this marked the birth of new technology and its accompanying industry.
There was a rapid growth in FGPA manufacturers in the 1990s, both in terms of the volume of production by various FGPA companies and the evolutions in the circuit’s sophistication and design. However, the early applications of FGPA were limited only to telecommunications and networking. But by the end of the decade, FGPA manufacturers expanded their applications to consumer, automotive, and various industrial applications.
The onset of the year 2013 witnessed various FGPA companies capture the market as follows –
- Altera Corporations – 31%
- Actel – 10%
- Xilinx – 36%
This market capture by various FGPA vendors collectively contributed to 77% of the total economic share.
Tech giants like Microsoft have also started using FPGAs to accentuate their performance. Employing FPGAs for the first time, Microsoft started using them in 2014 for Bing; then, in 2018, they began using them in additional data center workloads for Azure. This is the overall history and evolution of FGPA in the market, contributing to the rapid growth of FGPA companies in the market.
Countries where we find FPGA companies –
The top countries that manufacture FGPA and have maximum FGPA vendors and FGPA manufacturers are –
- USA
- China
- Japan
However, many other countries are also active participants in this race, but majorly, the credit for manufacturing maximum FGPAs goes to these three major countries.
How FPGA influences technology in the world –
As the world witnesses rapid growth in technology, electronics, and communications, there are several applications of FGPA worldwide.
- It is used in aerospace and defense as the FPGAs are radiation-tolerant. Also, they have enhanced image processing properties and waveform generation, which helps in the evolution of defense technologies.
- FGPA manufacturers also enable cost-effective solutions enabling the next generation to use fully-featured computer applications like information appliances, home networking, digital flat panel displays, and residential set-top boxes. This is why FPGAs have commercial as well as industrial applications.
- When used in various fields such as industrial image processing, industrial automation, or medical imaging equipment, Xilinx FPGAs and ISM-targeted design platforms provide higher levels of flexibility, faster time-to-market, and lower nonrecurring engineering costs (NRE).
Besides the major applications mentioned above, FPGAs are also used in wired and wireless communication services. They help provide end-to-end solutions for reprogrammable networking and RF, baseband, connectivity, networking, and transport solutions and address standards such as HSDPA, WCDMA, WiMAX, and others.
Xilinx is an FGPA manufacturer that manufactures such FGPA, which are targetted design platforms enabling higher levels of flexibility and lower engineering costs for many video and image processing applications.
The world’s leading eight FPGA producers –
Although many countries have high numbers of FGPA manufacturers and FGPS vendors, the top 8 companies are –
- XILINX – One of the oldest and the best-known companies for FGPA manufacturing is Xilinx. FPGAs have been manufactured by Xilinx for a long time now. They have produced different FPGA models, all suited to certain uses. Even though their FPGAs didn’t take the market by storm for long, they remain a popular choice.
- ALTERA CORPORATION– Altera Corporation is the third largest FGPA manufacturer in the world after Xilinx and Intel. The company was founded in 1984 in California and produces FPGAs for several uses like industrial automation, microprocessors, and consumer electronics. Altera holds around 35% of the total FGPA market in the world. Truth be told, NASA commissioned Altera to create an FGPA microprocessor for use in the Mars Rover. The United States Military and European Space Agency have both purchased chips from them. It’s due to the superior quality of Altera Corporation’s products.
- LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR– Another big name in the FGPA manufacturers and FGPA vendors is Lattice Semiconductors. This company emphasizes making highly complex products that are beyond the capacity of any individual company to produce. They make chips just to fulfilling a particular need of the company.
Apart from the top 3 FGPA companies, other big names include Achronix, QuickLogic Corporations, Microsemi Corporation, and Efinix.
How to select a good FGPA company?
This is a very important question that comes to mind when we think of good FGPA vendors for our industrial and commercial needs. Selecting a good FGPA vendor becomes the most crucial if you have a long-term project. Let us see what we need to decide while looking for the best FGPA vendors:
- The packaging of the FGPA.
- PCB layout constraints in any FGPA device.
- Device Migration feature offered by the FGPA companies.
Conclusion
FGPA is one of the most important components of any electronic device. It is usually better than ASIC as they are more accustomed to changes and reprogramming. Before selecting any FGPA vendor, you must consider the above points and keep them in mind while looking for the best FGPA device for your project. Also, many FGPA companies offer unique customization features and after-installation services along with the FGPA. You must look for the best one according to the needs of your project. If the project is long-term, it is always advisable to consider multiple factors before approaching any FGPA manufacturer or FGPA vendor.
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