Field-programmable analog arrays enable mixed-signal prototyping of embedded systems

The field of embedded systems is an increasingly popular area of focus for industry and academia alike. In typical embedded systems, analog circuitry is often limited to the input and output sensors with analog-to-digital (A/D) converters and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters placed as close to the sensors as possible leaving the majority of the system completely digital. Although this is understandable given the reprogrammable nature of digital technologies and ease of design, it is unfortunate since many embedded systems are battery powered and could benefit from low-power analog circuitry. To increase the influence of analog circuitry into mainstream embedded system design, reprogrammable analog devices, dubbed field-programmable analog arrays (FPAAs), need to be integrated with reprogrammable digital hardware to form a mixed-signal rapid prototyping platform. Such a system will enable embedded system designers to develop and evaluate mixed-signal systems with greater ease and encourage the use of more analog computational hardware when it is deemed best for the overall system.