One of the fundamental architecture issues is the type of DSP platform. Digital signal processing functions are commonly implemented on two types of programmable platforms; DSPs and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). DSPs are a specialized form of microprocessor, while the FPGA is a f... Moreorm of highly configurable hardware. In the past, the usage of DSPs has been nearly ubiquitous, but with the needs of many applications outstripping the processing capabilities (MIPS) of DSPs, the use of FPGAs has become very prevalent. Currently, the primary reason most engineers choose use an FPGA over a DSP is driven by the MIPS requirements of an application. Thus, when comparing DSPs and FPGAs, the common focus is on MIPs comparison – certainly important, but not the only advantage of an FPGA. Equally important, and often overlooked, is the inherent advantage that FPGAs have for product reliability and maintainability. This second advantage is the focus of this discussion.
