Future trends of microchip FPGA are something to look forward to. Read on to learn about the FPGA’s usage in 5G network infrastructure, the Automotive industry, 3D-FPGA development, and Anti-fuse FPGA. There are several reasons why the FPGA is essential for future technologies. First, the technology will help companies in their product development. However, it is essential to note that FPGA costs are increasing as the quantity increases. The resulting cost per unit will decrease the demand for FPGA. However, future trends of FPGA in automotive and cellular applications are looking promising and the military.
5G network infrastructures
Microchip FPGAs are the key to the next generation of wireless networks. With eFPGA IP and the upcoming 5G network, these chips will power new IoT applications. In addition, these chips can benefit users today. For example, they can provide high-performance, low-power, and small-form-factor wireless solutions. Future trends of microchip FPGAs will show the industry where the technology will go next.
Collaboration between the US and foreign companies and researchers is key despite the challenges and risks associated with the new 5G network. Although cooperation is critical for mitigating the risks of new technologies, it is also essential for ensuring market compatibility. For example, Finland has coordinated the 5G Momentum project, a proof-of-concept test of the technology that brought the country’s mmWave expertise to the global stage.
While existing telecommunications companies are playing a key role in the new 5G network, these companies have the advantage of leveraging the ecosystem supply chain. For example, Nokia will provide remote radio heads and AirGile core network software, while Cisco and Intel will contribute Xeon processors and FPGA-based accelerators. In addition, Qualcomm is likely to supply small cells. Still, Fujitsu is an industrial manufacturer, so it is not significant enough to compete with the four major suppliers of 5G components.
We expect the 5G network infrastructure to be customizable to different groups and applications. Ultimately, a virtualized architecture will allow individual groups to personalize the architecture of their networks. In addition, software-led approaches will reduce the cost of deployment and enable ongoing functionality updates without replacing any hardware. Further, this modular approach will enable a wide range of suppliers and allow ongoing functionality updates without replacing hardware.
Automotive industry
The future of autonomous vehicles is already here, and the technology to enable it is already available. In addition to lowering overall costs, autonomous vehicles will also generate substantial revenue over their lifetime. Therefore, the use of FPGAs in autonomous vehicles is an excellent opportunity to improve the design and implementation of these systems. Moreover, automotive manufacturers can sell the same hardware for different tiers and features of different cars, thereby reducing cost and complexity elsewhere.
Rayming PCB & Assembly boasts of the availability of its automotive-grade FPGAs. The company’s automotive-grade FPGAs have attained the AEC-Q100 grade 2 qualification, which defines the minimum performance requirements for electronics components and end systems. In addition, these chips are secure and offer a low total cost of ownership. Further, they have an exemplary supply chain and offer advanced security features.
In the automotive market, FPGAs are growing as a technology to control vehicles. In addition to being used in automotive systems, FPGAs are also an excellent choice for ADAS. Some applications of auto FPGAs include monitoring the driving environment, detecting the human presence, and more. But there are several challenges associated with these auto applications. Hence, future trends of microchip FPGA in the automotive industry depend on technology.
The growth of the FPGA market will continue during the forecast period, and China will dominate the market in this region. Growing internet penetration and technological advancements in the region are factors driving the growth of the automotive industry. In addition, the demand for FPGAs in the APAC region is due to the increasing demand for industrial automation and telecommunication. Further, the automotive market will grow substantially in the second and third quarters of 2021.
Development of 3D-FPGAs
The emergence of 3D-FPGAs has spurred much enthusiasm in the semiconductor industry. These devices have the potential to provide tremendous benefits to microchip applications. Currently, there are several approaches to the design process. Traditional 2D design tools fail to address critical issues related to 3D-IC design. But, a new process is on its way, which includes a complete back-end flow, strides to enable true 3D design, and the use of TSVs.
One such approach is known as hardware acceleration. In this approach, a portion of an algorithm is implemented in an FPGA instead of a generic processor, thus maximizing computation speed. Bing, for example, adopted this method in 2014 to speed up its search algorithm. Microsoft’s Project Catapult, an AI and artificial neural network accelerator is another example of this approach.
The design of an FPGA enables it to address the complexity of a specific task. For example, 3D MRI image segmentation or reconstructed images can work on an FPGA. The architecture of 3D-FPGAs makes it possible to design hardware that is ideal for tasks such as tomography image reconstruction, 3-D MRI image segmentation, and PET/MRI systems. These solutions can perform these intensive computation tasks with parallel processing, and they meet the hard real-time requirements of medical imaging.
Microchip Technology’s PolarFire FPGA is one example of the high-performance technology offered by 3D-FPGAs. The company has shipped several volumes of a polar-grade FPGA, qualified for automotive-grade temperature. Its upcoming PolarFire FPGAs, dubbed M2GL-EVAL-KIT, are the latest examples of 3D-FPGAs.
With a stacked and three-dimensional architecture, Microchip and Xilinx are exploring several different options to enable more advanced applications. For example, MicrosemiSmartFusion devices incorporate an ARM Cortex-M3 hard processor core, up to 64 kB of flash, and multiple-channel ADCs.
Anti-fuse FPGAs
The global Antifuse FPGA market is presently experiencing healthy growth, owing to the increasing demand for FPGAs. However, the market is experiencing many challenges and risks owing to various factors such as changing price structures and buying patterns and the covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, future trends in the Antifuse FPGA market will provide a promising future. The Global Antifuse FPGA market report covers detailed documentation of the market size and key players in the industry.
However, despite these challenges, the Antifuse microchip FPGA market will grow at a moderate rate between 2020 and 2025. In addition, the world economy will shrink by around 4%, and the anti-fuse microchip FPGA market will grow at a lower rate. Regardless of the challenges, however, it remains a largely positive outlook for the industry’s future.
As the world’s largest semiconductor market, China will experience explosive growth over the coming years. China consumes more than half of the world’s semiconductors – both for domestic use and potential export. This rapid growth in Chinese demand has significantly boosted the FPGA market. While domestic Chinese producers can only meet 30% of the total demand, the government actively encourages leading digital enterprises to build domestic semiconductor production capability.
Future trends of anti-fuse microchip technology will continue to drive innovation in the semiconductor industry. Flash-based FPGAs will provide a secure and reliable platform for multiple system implementations. The benefits of these devices go beyond the ability to implement simple gates. A microchip FPGA can be helpful in many applications, including smart vision and the Internet of Things. In addition, it is a highly versatile and affordable way to learn about these devices.
