Re: Will SoC completely replace generalized microcontrollers?

On 28 Nov 2005 10:39:46 -0800, the renowned "Telenochek"
<interpasha@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Sure I understand that right now FPGA dev tools put a heavy burden on
>the developer. Same goes for ARM development.
>
>But when the development tools become advanced enough so that you can
>go:
>I want a 16bit 30MIPS processor in the center, and a CAN controller
>over here and RF transmitter over here, and a FFT core right here.
>Then write some code in software (Java/C++) (not VHDL/Verilog HDLs) or
>better yet just draw it in a visual GUI in the form of a block diagram,
>click the block, set some settings and it works. With all the hardware
>correctly configured & clocking synchronization issues automatically
>taken care of.
>Like C++ application development, only in hardware.
>
>How far away are we from the above scenario?

Synthesizeable cores take more silicon, use more power and are lower
performance than hard cores, all other things being equal. One trend
is to put hard processors onto FPGA chips, where, like unused
peripherals on a microcontroller, they can be ignored if not used,
since they only add a few percent to the chip area.

I don't think we'll see anything like you suggest anytime soon (at
least not at a popular price point). I expect a continuing trend for
more and better peripherals to be included on-chip (and you can use or
not use them) and for processors to be included on FPGAs, but the
latter would have to have a lot of flash ROM included to start to look
very attractive, and the chips are already *way* too big and expensive
for many volume applications (even with state-of-the-art 90nm
processes etc.).

Some things are limited by process too-- it may not be economical to
put a large flash array on the same chip as an RF periperal etc. or
FPGA RAM-based structure or high-precision analog circuitry like
delta-sigma converters and voltage references.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@xxxxxxxxxxxx Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
.

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