A Field-Programmable Mixed-Analog-Digital Array

A novel field-programmable mixed-analog-digital array (FPMA) is proposed, which contains a field-programmable analog array, a field-programmable digital array, and a mixed-signal interface. This device is intended to be used for the rapid implementation of mixed-signal circuits. The resource and architectural requirements for this array are determined by analyzing a set of sample circuits. The mixed-signal interface is constructed from converter blocks that contain configurable A/D and D/A converters, which gives some flexibility in the specification of the interface. A 1.2 mm CMOS prototype IC has been designed to demonstrate the feasibility of FPMA technology.