Architecture and synthesis issues in FPGAs

The technology and architecture of interconnections could be considered as the most important factor in determining the effectiveness of an FPGA for a specific application. Due to their restricted connectivity, FPGAs represent a challenging technology for CAD tools developers. We will present an overview of the four different types of FPGA architectures available commercially and the approaches used in FPGA layout and logic synthesis. The presentation will cover these issues from both a user´s perspective and a CAD tool developer´s perspective