What is the difference between a FPGA, ASIC and PSoC?

In layman terms, FPGA is "field programmable", that is one can modify the function of the chip repeatedly depending on your usage using VHDL/Verilog or other system languages. ASIC  is application specific, that is one tone below FPGA, although you can program it to your liking, the system once embedded with a function cannot be changed since it has a custom method for creating an ASIC PSoC (Programmable System on Chip)on the other hand is a little different. Its an intermediate between FPGA and ASIC. It resembles an ASIC in the way that blocks can be assigned a wide range of functions and interconnected on-chip. Unlike an ASIC, there is no special manufacturing process required to create the custom configuration It resembles an FPGA in the way that at power up it must be configured, but this configuration occurs by loading instructions from the built-in Flash memory. PSoC most closely resembles a microcontroller combined with a programmable logic device and programmable analog. Code is executed to interact with the user specific peripheral functions.

The Application Specific Integrated Circuit is a unique type of IC that is designed with a certain purpose in mind. This type of ICs are very common in most hardware nowadays since building with standard IC components would lead to big and bulky circuits. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is also a type of IC, but it does not have the programming built into it during the production. As the name implies, the IC can be programmed by the user as long as he has the right tools and proper knowledge. An ASIC can no longer be altered after it gets out of the production line. That is why the designers need to be totally sure of their design, especially when making large quantities of the same ASIC. The programmable nature of an FPGA allows the manufacturers to correct mistakes and to even send out patches or updates after the product has been bought. Manufacturers also take advantage of this by creating their prototypes in an http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-fpga-and-microcontroller/ so that it can be thoroughly tested and revised in the real world before actually sending out the design to the IC foundry for ASIC production. ASICs have a great advantage in terms of recurring costs as very little material is wasted due to the fixed number of transistors in the design. With an FPGA, a certain number of transistor elements are always wasted as these packages are standard. This means that the cost of an FPGA is often higher than that of a comparable ASIC. Although the recurring cost of an ASIC is quite low, its non-recurring cost is relatively high and often reaching into the millions. Since it is non-recurring though, its value per IC decreases with increased volume. If you analyze the cost of production in relation to the volume, you would find that as you go lower in production numbers, using FPGA actually becomes cheaper than using ASICs. Summary: http://1.An ASIC is a unique type of integrated circuit meant for a specific application while an FPGA is a reprogrammable integrated circuit. http://2.An ASIC can no longer be altered once created while an FPGA can. http://3.It is common practice to design and test on an FPGA before implementing on an ASIC. http://4.An ASIC wastes very little material compared to an FPGA and the recurring costs are low. 5.FPGA is better than an ASIC when building low volume production circuits. Read more: http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-asic-and-fpga/#ixzz3Xj9pyyKn http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-asic-and-fpga/#ixzz3Xj9pyyKn