A field programmable multi-chip module (FPMCM)

Multi-chip module (MCM) packaging can reduce the cost and increase the utility of field programmable systems. We are currently developing a first generation field programmable multi-chip module (FPMCM) as a test vehicle for a particular MCM technology. We present the advantages of MCM for field programmable systems and develop analytical models for estimating the capacity of FPMCM architectures based on Rent´s rule. These models are used to generate the architecture of our first generation prototype which employs smaller FPGA die and a mixture of direct and switched interconnect. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities that FPMCMs face