Programmable Logic IC Development tools are electrical components that are utilized to set up reconfigurable digital circuits. Before using them in any circuit is important that they are customized (reconfigured) by utilizing a specific program.

Let’s have a look on some variants of the above tools:-

• PLA – It stands for Programmable Logic Array. A PLA consists of a programmable AND gate array and a programmable OR gate array that are linked together to get complemented conditionally to generate an output. On the basis of IBM’s Read-Only Associative Memory (ROAM), the Texas Instruments made a mask-programmable IC in 1970. The device was named as TMS2000. It consisted of eighteen outputs and seventeen inputs with eight JK flip-flops for memory. Later this device was termed as Programmable Logic Array.

• PAL – It stands for Programmable Array Logic. This device consists of a series of transistor cells that are arranged as "fixed-OR, programmable-AND" plane to carry out a famous binary operation i.e. "sum of products" to generate an output. The PAL was introduced by the MMI in 1978. It was small, fast and cheap. It was available in 20 pins 300 mil DIP-packages. Later it was succeeded by AMD which introduced 24 pins 22V10 PAL with several new features.

• GALs – It stands for Generic Array Logic. It was an improved version of PAL which was introduced in 1985 by Lattice Semiconductor. The logical feature of the device was the same as the PAL but this one came with an additional feature of reprogramming. GALs are customized (programmed) utilizing a PAL programmer, or by utilizing the in-circuit programming method on supporting chips.

• CPLDs – It stands for Complex Programmable Logic Device. GALs and PALs are accessible just in little measures, proportionate to a couple of hundred logic gates. CPLDs and PLDs are taken help for larger logic circuits. The first method to program a CPLDs is by a PAL programmer. This method is not convenient for devices that have 100s of pins. The second process is by welding the gadget to its printed circuit board, at that point feed it with a Serial Data Stream from a PC. CPLD comes with a pre-built circuit that deciphers the stream of data and arranges the CPLD to play out its predetermined logical task.

• FPGAs – It stands for Field Programmable Gate Array. Early FPGAs were 82S105 sequencer and 82S100 array by Signetice. It was brought in the year 1970. 82S105 consisted of flip-flop functions while 82S100 was an array of AND terms. FPGAs are made up of a grid of logic gates furthermore, once put away, the information doesn't change, like that of an ordinary gate array. The term “field-programmable” in FPGA means the tool is programmed not by the manufacturer but by the customer. One of the main differences between a CPLDs and an FPGAs is that a CPLD generates logic functions using Sea OF Gate while an FPGA is based on LUTs (Look Up Tables). FPGAs are good for large scale machines while CPLDs are suitable for wide combinational logic applications.

So this was all about programmable Logic IC Development tools. Hope you liked the blog. Companies that manufacture programmable Logic IC Development tools are Lattice, Altera and Terasic Technologies. Make sure to refer them using the links as provided.

View all the Programmable Logic IC Development Tools