What are you using FPGAs for?

I am working on a design implementing a computationally-intensive image processing algorithm, which has to run real-time at up to 60 frames per second.  Such computation requires a large array of CPU cores, which is more costly and power-intensive than a custom FPGA solution.  They tend to excel at tasks where there is a fixed set of computations to be performed, and are able to achieve a high throughput because the operations can be performed in parallel across the logic fabric in the chip.  Image processing, telecommunications, and aerospace are areas which are using the larger FPGA devices these days.

I mainly use FPGA for a whole project : commands for (very) high power machines.

FPGA is infinetly configurable and I say "upgradable".

FPGA with Nios II as a data logger with multiple communication (rs232, ethernet, profibus, memory card)

For example, there are some applications where the use of microcontrollers/microprocessors is useless. When we need to process various signals in a short time (few nanoseconds) in parallel. The best choice: FPGA

I use FPGA's and CPLD's often.

In the last month or so:

Frame buffer and ADC for 10ghz imaging system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDyo_OQFdAc

Pinball controller board. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG2DkjPieX8

In th next two weeks I'll be demonstrating another project with with video edge detection.

-Jer

Jeri,

Congratulations !!!

I enjoyed very much the video about imaging system.

The way you present is very nice !

I use FPGA's and CPLD's also and I like to see differents and very creatives applications using them.

Maia.

I am using FPGAs as an interfacing/clock domain crossing device. Typically has a PCI target block in it for communication with a master device.

I am also working on using an FPGA as a memory controller, that I am also developing a custom softcore processor on (just getting my feet wet with that). I am finding that developing my own custom features are much easier than buying a uC or uP and reading a 2000+ page User's Manual to figure out how to use the device. With the FPGA, I just develop my own functionality as I need it. Not saying that the FPGA trumps the uC or uP, it's just a preference of mine.

I agree. Every time we choose a different uC or uP, thousands of pages are needed to get knowledge.

I use Altera's FPGA and the microprocessor used is always the same: NIOS.

So, I don't lose my time to get new information.

The focus is only in my application.

Nice, yes the learning curve for that particular softcore is sometimes "taxing" to say the least. However, Id rather avoid the uC "manual": the Renesas RX62N literally has a User's Manual that is 2014 pages long....ouch.

I haven't used NIOS yet, but I work with people that are using it and have great things to say about it. Apparently the softcore Microblaze (I am more familiar with Xilinx) was developed by some college students in California (silicon valley, I am sure) which blows my mind. But I guess I am trying the same thing.