FPGA Boards for Wireless Communications
A Field-Programmable Gate Array FPGA is created to evaluate high-speed signal processing. It is designed for high-speed signal processing such as image processing, full-HD image processing, wireless communication and many more. It is normally equipped with Altera FPGA. Altera FPGAs gives the users a board spectrum of FPGAs for different functions and applications.
The most usual high-speed process best for FPGA processing is the front-end signal processing like the cascaded integrated comb filter and decimators for up down conversions. These front-end signals are best for FPGA architecture is simple arithmetic. However, these are intensive in computation cycles due to the fast rate of digitalizing. These are perfect for FPGAs because they are very easy for parallel processing. Also, they do not need complex algorithms. Spreading and de-spreading, error correction and code identification are other functions that need high speed processing from the FPGA. When signal-processing functions has tight integration of analog, the designer will be very flexible for application specific front end signal processing. This will improve the quality of signal and other functions like code identification and carrier acquisition. Rapid prototyping methodology can implement receive algorithm for wireless connection or multiple input multiple output wireless connection or MIMO wireless connection.
The use of MIMO technology is becoming the trend of the wireless communication system at present. Using multiple antennas increases the capacity and spectral efficiency of wireless communication at both the transmitter and receiver.
These days, prototyping those multiple antenna system is becoming more and more important at a very fast rate. They need to be prototyped because they need to verify the additional functions advanced by analytical results. Because FPGA can handle these fast processing systems it is appropriate for this wireless connection. Also, the FPGA has high-level parallelism, embedded multipliers, suitable prototyping platform and high densities. This is why it is very suitable for the MIMO wireless communication system.
The complex architecture of FPGAs is very suitable for the MIMO wireless system. It can handle the rapid prototyping methodology that a MIMO wireless connection needs. The functions and other capacities of an FPGA are best for this kind of application. Alltera FPGA is what FPGAs are normally equipped with.
Here are the kinds of Altera FPGA and their definitions:
1. The Cyclone Series FPGAs. These types of FPGAs are the lowest cost and lowest power type of FPGAs. These are best for high volume and budget sensitive applications. The Cyclone series can be used alone, it can be used as a digital signal processor or it can be used as cost efficient embedded processing solution.
2. The Arria series FPGA. This is best for midrange budgets and midrange power performance required applications. This device provides a superior signal combined with memory, logic and DSP in this device. It can maximize system bandwidth and integrate more functions with its on chip transceivers.
3. The Starix series FPGAs. This is the industry’s highest bandwidth and density FPGAs. This is best for high-end applications. Its latest models have integrated transceiver options.