Since the early years of embedded processor design and FPGA design, silicon advancement and design techniques for each have evolved independently. In the real world there are many FPGA designs without embedded processors and many embedded systems that neither have nor need an FPGA. This leads to two very distinct design flows, styles, and engineering disciplines. The relatively recent addition of SmartFusion® customizable system-on-chip (cSoC) devices adds the complexity of analog into the mix.
March 2, 2012