Field Programmable Grid Arrays or FPGAs do share some similarities with microcontrollers. However, the two are different. While both are integrated circuits, and products and devices use them, there is a distinct difference between the two.
It is possible to program both FPGA and microcontrollers such that they perform specific tasks. However, they are useful in different applications. While FPGA users can program them straight away, it is possible to program microcontrollers only when in a circuit. Another difference between the two is FPGAs are capable of handling multiple parallel inputs, while microcontrollers can read only one line of code at a time.
As FPGAs enable a higher level of customization, they are more expensive and also more difficult to program. On the other hand, microcontrollers, being small and cost-effective, are also easy to customize. It is necessary to know the differences and similarities between the two to make an informed decision about which of them to effectively use for a project.
A microcontroller is typically an integrated circuit that functions like a small computer, constituting a CPU or central processing unit, some amount of random access memory or RAM, and some level of input/output devices. However, unlike a desktop computer, a microcontroller is incapable of running numerous programs. A microcontroller, being a special-purpose device, is capable of executing only one program at a time.
It is possible to make a microcontroller perform a single function repeatedly or at intervals of user request. Typically embedded along with other devices, microcontrollers can be a part of the appliance, no matter the type of product. Moreover, these small computers can operate at very low energy levels—most consume currents in milliamperes, at typically 5 VDC or lower. When produced in large quantities, microcontrollers can be very affordable, although the appliance where the microcontroller is embedded can vary in cost.
On the other hand, an FPGA is a much more complicated device compared to a microcontroller. Most FPGAs come with a pre-programmed chip that allows the users to change the software but not the hardware inside it. By changing the software, users can configure the hardware while using the FPGA. Embedded within a device, an FPGA allows altering the hardware of the device without adding or removing anything physically.
An FPGA is typically an array of integrated circuits, with the arrays arranged in programmable logic blocks. A new FPGA is not configured in any particular function. Users decide the configuration according to their application, and if necessary, users can reconfigure the FPGA as many times as necessary. The FPGA configuration process requires the use of a Hardware Description Language, or HDL, such as Verilog and VHDL.
A modern FPGA features many logic gates and RAM blocks to enable it to execute complex computations. Components in an FPGA may include complete memory blocks in addition to simple flip-flops.
Both FPGAs and microcontrollers serve similar basic functions. Manufacturers develop these items such that users can decide their functionality when designing the application. Both integrated circuits have a similar appearance and are versatile, and users can apply them for various applications.
