In modern electronics and embedded systems, FPGA boards have
become a very important core hardware component. Whether you are engaged in
artificial intelligence (AI), industrial automation, Internet of Things (IoT)
devices, or high-performance computing (HPC), FPGA boards can achieve functions
and flexibility that traditional solutions, such as microcontrollers or ASICs,
cannot.
So, what exactly makes an FPGA board
so special? How is FPGA programming implemented? What exactly are the
differences between Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and ordinary logic
chips? If you have an idea, how can you make a reliable, scalable and mass-production-suitable
FPGA development board?
This guide will systematically answer
these common questions and also introduce more related knowledge. We will
combine industry practice and practical experience to provide you with a
detailed explanation of the entire process of FPGA board design, layout and
manufacturing, from the core architecture, design process to mass production
and manufacturing of the FPGA board.
What is an FPGA?
The core of the FPGA board is a Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). It is a very powerful and flexible chip. After
the chip is manufactured, users can configure and modify the internal digital
logic of the chip through FPGA programming according to their own needs. Unlike
microcontrollers that can only run fixed programs and have a fixed hardware
structure, FPGAs can repeatedly update their hardware configurations to achieve
different functions.
The FPGA board, also known as the FPGA
development board, is a complete hardware platform. It not only contains Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), but also integrates memory, voltage regulators
and connectors. Some also come with dedicated peripherals or embedded
processors, which can be directly used for direct application development.
FPGA boards are widely used in
industries like aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, medical devices and machine
learning. Its greatest advantage lies in its flexibility and
multi-functionality. Through FPGA programming, engineers can flexibly customize
hardware according to project requirements to achieve rapid prototyping,
repeated iterations, and parallel processing tasks that traditional CPUs cannot
efficiently complete.
Types of FPGA Boards and Selection
Criteria
When choosing your FPGA board, first
figure out the main types available on the market. FPGA boards can generally be
divided into two types:
The first is commercial off-the-shelf
(COTS) FPGA board (FPGA board). This type of FPGA development board is produced
in advance by mainstream manufacturers and can be directly used for prototype
design or proof-of-concept work. COTS FPGA boards are suitable for learning,
rapid prototyping, academic projects and initial development. Its main
advantages are: quick market launch, built-in programming and debugging
functions, and a wide range of choices, including both low-cost models and
high-performance versions.
The second is custom FPGA board. If
you are going to produce commercial products, engage in mass production, or
have special requirements for your project, then you need to customize an FPGA
board. The common reasons for choosing custom FPGA boards include: special
customization of size or shape, the need for high-speed I/O or dedicated
connectors, the hope to achieve advanced functions that standard FPGA
development boards do not have, cost optimization based on mass production, and
full control over design and supply chain.
These two types of FPGA boards each
have their applicable scenarios. When choosing, you should decide based on your
actual needs.
FPGA Selection Criteria
Whether you choose a COTS or a custom
FPGA board, you should consider the following factors:
• Project lifecycle: Does the board require long-term support?
• Required interfaces and number of I/Os: How many signals are needed? What are
the operating voltage levels?
• Power consumption and thermal requirements
• Performance targets: speed, logic resources, and memory capacity
• Budget and time constraints
Choosing the right FPGA board (FPGA
board), whether for prototyping or mass production, is the key to project
success.
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FPGA Board Architecture and Components
A modern FPGA board not only has a
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) but also integrates many key components.
The following are the main components:
1. The Field Programmable Gate
Array (FPGA) Chip
The core of an FPGA board is the FPGA
chip. The chip contains the following modules inside:
• Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs): These are the fundamental
units for FPGAs to implement various logic functions.
• Programmable Interconnects: Used to connect different logic
blocks, they can achieve any digital circuit structure.
• I/O Blocks: These interfaces are responsible for data
communication with external devices, such as LVDS, LVCMOS, and differential
signals.
• Memory Elements: These include Block RAM, distributed RAM, and
some even have memory controllers.
• Clock Management: It includes PLLs and DLLs, which are used to
generate and manage multiple clock domains to achieve precise clock distribution.
2.
Power Management
An FPGA board requires multiple power
supplies, such as core circuits, I/O circuits, and auxiliary modules. A Voltage
Regulator and a Decoupling Capacitor will be specially placed on the board.
This ensures a stable power supply and low noise and prevents voltage
fluctuations from affecting the normal operation of the circuit.
3.
Configuration and Programming Interfaces
FPGA
programming is generally implemented through interfaces such as JTAG and SPI.
Many FPGA boards also come with a USB downloader, which can be directly
connected to a computer for burning and debugging, making it very convenient
for developers to get started quickly.
4.
Memory and Storage
Many
FPGA development boards are equipped with external storage chips such as SDRAM
and Flash, which are used to store startup files, data or as cache.
5.
Connectors and Expansion
High-density
connectors (such as FMC, PMOD or custom sockets) enable FPGA boards to be
easily expanded, allowing for the installation of various sensors, screens or
custom functional modules to meet the requirements of different projects.
6.
Additional Peripherals
Some
advanced FPGA boards also integrate microprocessors, ADC/DAC
(analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converters), Ethernet PHY chips or
Wireless interfaces. This way, complex embedded systems can be directly built
without the need for additional sub-boards, which not only saves space but also
enhances integration.
Essential
Steps in FPGA Board PCB Design
Designing
a PCB for an FPGA board needs to be carried out in stages, and each step should
take into account both creativity and engineering specifications. The specific
process is as follows:
System
Specification and Schematic Design
First
of all, you need to clarify what goals your designed FPGA board aims to achieve
and what functions it requires. Select the appropriate FPGA chip and record in
detail all interfaces, I/O ports, power supply and storage requirements. The
schematic diagram should be drawn concisely and clearly. Pin allocation should
be clear. If there are unused FPGA pins, it is recommended to lead them out to
the pin header for convenient subsequent debugging.
PCB
Stackup and Layer Planning
Modern
FPGA boards typically require at least 4 to 6 layers to ensure signal
integrity, power distribution, and EMI/EMC performance. If it is a high-speed
design, it may require 8 layers or even more.
The
signal layer and the power/ground plane layer are alternately arranged (such as
signal-ground-signal-power).
Impedance
control for high-speed signals should be planned in advance.
Ensure
that the power supply layer and the stratum are continuous and uninterrupted.
Component
Placement
Arrange
key components such as FPGA chips, decoupling capacitors, memory chips, and
connectors in a reasonable layout. High-speed signals should take the shortest
route as much as possible. Put the related components together. When designing,
consider heat dissipation in advance, such as reserving the positions for heat
sinks or thermal vias.
Routing
and Signal Integrity
High-speed
signal routing is extremely crucial:
Differential
signals must be length-matched.
Avoid
right angles and try to use 45-degree or curved routing as much as possible.
Maintain
consistent impedance throughout the process and minimize unnecessary branches.
The
clock and reset signal traces should be neat to minimize skew and jitter.
Power
Distribution Network (PDN) Design
The
power supply traces should be wide enough, or a power layer can be used
directly. The decoupling capacitor should be placed as close as possible to the
power pins of the FPGA. Power supply filtering requires the combination of
large capacitors and ceramic capacitors to take into account noise suppression
at different frequencies.
Clock
Distribution
The
clock tree structure should be reasonably designed to reduce the skew of the
clock signal. Complex FPGA boards can use a dedicated layer of clock routing or
adopt shielded lines to reduce interference.
Documentation
and Version Control
Interface
tables, schematics, and pin assignment documents must all be archived and
managed in a version control system. Documentation should be clear and
accurate, which is especially important for collaborative development or
multi-board system projects.
Tools
and Technologies for FPGA Board Design
When
designing an FPGA board, every stage requires the right tools and technologies.
The details are as follows:
1. PCB Design Software
Commonly
used FPGA board (FPGA board) design software includes:
• Altium
Designer: Supports advanced routing, 3D visualization, and is well-suited for
FPGA-related development.
• Cadence
Allegro: Very suitable for designing large and complex FPGA boards, with strong
constraint management capabilities.
• Mentor
Graphics PADS: Integrates signal integrity analysis and pin optimization
functions.
• KiCad:
Open-source software, ideal for small FPGA development board projects.
2. Signal and Power Integrity Analysis Tools
For
high-speed FPGA boards (FPGA board), you need specialized analysis tools:
• Ansys
SIwave
• Cadence
Sigrity
• Mentor
HyperLynx
• Keysight
ADS
These
tools help you identify issues such as impedance mismatches, crosstalk, and
power plane resonances.
3.
Thermal Analysis Tools
Modern
FPGA boards (FPGA board) have high requirements for thermal management. Common
tools include:
• Ansys
Icepak
• 6SigmaET
• FloTHERM
These
software tools help you analyze and optimize PCB heat dissipation.
4.
FPGA Vendor Tools
For
FPGA programming, simulation, and synthesis, the following tools are commonly
used:
• Xilinx
Vivado
• Intel
Quartus Prime
• Microsemi
Libero SoC
• Lattice
Diamond
These
tools can generate configuration files (bitstreams) from HDL code that can be
used directly by the FPGA board.
5.
Co-Design and Collaboration Tools
Nowadays,
many design workflows require PCB engineers and FPGA programming engineers to
collaborate. Co-design tools can support pin swapping, interface optimization,
and rapid design iteration, improving overall efficiency.
Conclusion
The
FPGA board is the core hardware of modern digital systems. It features
extremely high flexibility, powerful parallel processing capabilities and
excellent performance. To do a good job in the design of an FPGA board, you
need to understand the core architecture of the field programmable gate array,
and also master the circuit board layout, signal integrity control and
manufacturing process. The realization of high-quality FPGA boards is
inseparable from solid knowledge, precise engineering methods and appropriate
design tools.
As
long as you follow the best practices in this guide, you can confidently
complete the design, prototype development and mass production manufacturing of
the FPGA board, ensuring that the developed FPGA development board is reliable
enough to cope with various application challenges.
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1:
When should I choose a custom FPGA board vs. a standard dev board?
A: Choose a standard FPGA development board (COTS) for learning, prototyping, or
when your needs match off-the-shelf features. Opt for a custom FPGA board if
you need a specific size, I/O, performance, or cost optimization, especially
for production.
Q2:
What’s the minimum PCB layer count for a modern FPGA board?
A: For basic FPGA boards, 4 layers is the minimum. Most high-speed,
reliable designs use 6–10+ layers to ensure solid power/ground planes and
impedance-controlled signals.
Q3:
How to avoid common design mistakes?
A: Always document pin assignments and interfaces, use adequate
decoupling, verify stackup for signal integrity, and simulate power delivery.
Use version control for all design files and interface tables.
Q4:
How to ensure signal and power integrity for high-speed FPGAs?
A: Use matched impedance routing, differential pairs, minimize trace lengths, and
provide robust power/ground planes. Simulate with SI/PI tools and follow best
practices for decoupling and plane layout.
Q5:
What are the best tools for FPGA board design?
A:
Industry leaders include Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, Mentor Graphics
PADS, and KiCad for PCB; Xilinx Vivado and Intel Quartus Prime for FPGA
programming; and tools like Sigrity and HyperLynx for SI/PI analysis.
