Smaller FPGAs mean less power

Microchip has introduced a pair of programmable ICs to its ‘PolarFire’ range with fewer resources to reduce power consumption.

The parts are the MPF050T FPGA and MPFS025T SoC, both available in 11 x 11mm packaging.

“We have reduced power consumption by up to 50% or more with the introduction of lower density offerings, while maintaining capabilities on these platforms,” said Microchip FPGA v-p Bruce Weyer.

The SoC version has FPGA plus processing hardware, in this case an “application class Risc-V architecture-based processor complex with 2Mbyte of L2 cache and LPDDR4 memory support”, said Microchip. “Extending the portfolio with a 25k logic elements multi-core RISC-V SoC and a 50k logic elements FPGA opens new application possibilities. They are ideal for low-power smart embedded vision applications and thermally constrained automotive, industrial automation, communications, defence and IoT systems.

Volume shipment of production silicon is scheduled for the first calendar quarter of 2022, but developers can get going with the company’s recently released Libero 2021.2 software tools, available from Microchip’s website.

		MPFS025T	MPF050T
Processors	Risc-V sub-system	Yes	No
FPGA Fabric	Logic elements (4LUT + DFF)	23	48k
	Math blocks (18×18 MACC)	68	150
	LSRAM blocks (20kbit)	84	160
	uSRAM blocks (64×12)	204	450
	Total RAM	1.8	3.6Mbit
	uPROM	194	216kbit
	User DLLs / PLLs	8	8 each
High Speed IO	250Mbit/s to 12.5Gbit/s serdes	4	4 lanes
High Speed IO	PCIe Gen2 end points/root ports	2	2
Total FPGA IO	HSIO + GPIO	108	176