01
Hardware vs Software
A function can often be implemented in software, dedicated hardware, or a programmable accelerator. The appropriate choice depends on latency, throughput, flexibility, development cost, energy consumption, and verification requirements.
02
System-on-Chip
A system-on-chip integrates processing cores, memory interfaces, peripherals, accelerators, and other system components within a single integrated device.
03
FPGAs
Field-programmable gate arrays provide reconfigurable digital logic that can implement highly parallel hardware structures. They occupy a middle ground between fixed-function hardware and general-purpose processors in many applications.
04
Engineering Trade-offs
- Performance.
- Latency.
- Energy.
- Area.
- Bill of materials.
- Flexibility.
- Verification effort.
- Manufacturing complexity.
- Software maintainability.