A rapid prototyping method for top-down design of system-on-chip devices using LPGAs

This paper proposes two methods for a rapid prototyping of top-down system-on-chip (SOC) design using laser programmable gate arrays (LPGAs). The first one is a design flow of SOC consisting of four steps: concept-making, virtual-world prototyping, synthesis, and real-world prototyping. The steps can be undertaken individually or in tandem and provisional product models are transformed from upper stream (concept-making) to lower stream (synthesis) either automatically or semi-automatically. This method differs from ordinary rapid prototyping methods in that design evaluation is shifted more upper stream. The SOC device is manufactured early; the steps follow concept-making, virtual-world prototyping, synthesis and real-world prototyping (in the ordinary case, from real-world prototyping to synthesis). This method allows the device to be evaluated in the actual operating environment. The second method we propose is based on LPGAs and use of a real-time production fabrication system (RPFS). With these design methods and environment, we can get a shortest time to market which offers exciting audio and video capabilities while giving designers the flexibility they need to rapidly produce innovative and creative products. This paper describes the application of these methods to develop video signal processors for LCD projectors, demonstrating their efficiency for design tuning and performance optimization.