The need to respond to changing market standards in a compressed time to market window has led to the widespread use of programmable logic devices (PLDs) in a broad range of consumer applications. While development of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application specific standard parts (ASSPs) requires high non-recurring engineering charges, PLDs are standard off-the-shelf parts that can be customized for different applications using flexible software tools. Unlike ASICs and ASSPs, PLDs do not require long lead times: their functionality can be changed at any time to accommodate a change in product requirements. In many market segments, such as handheld devices, PLDs have found acceptance due to new product architectures that reduce power consumption, feature new packaging options and lower unit cost.

PLD Usage in Consumer Applications

With improved architectures that reduce power consumption, new packages for smaller form factors, lower cost per unit and a high level of product differentiation, PLDs are increasingly being used in consumer applications. In many consumer systems, PLDs can extend the usage of the current generation of the applications processor or CPU by providing advanced bus interfacing and bridging functions. These bus interfacing and bridging functions usually do not have very high performance requirements.