flash fpgas in the value based market white paper january 2005 table of contents 2 introduction 3 new opportunities for 4 defining user needs 5 technology options 6 cost comparisons summary 8 field programmable gate arrays have a well established position every systems engineer s toolbox been used by engineers many years to rapidly prototype or meet low volume preproduction requirements when communications and network driven internet bubble took off at turn millennium demand skyrocketed higher densities any since then fpga changed dramatically today as companies increasingly focus on bill materials bottom line look silicon solutions that offer both unit total system costs asics structured traditionally offered lowest solution high volumes however escalating time pressures exponentially increasing nonrecurring engineering nre charges rising need mitigate risk are preventing from addressing designers instead asic alternative has emerged address capable
