New ultra-low-density FPGAs have been released by Lattice Semiconductor Corporation. The Company’s iCE40 are a single-chip sensor solution that facilitate the so 
called next generation of context-aware, ultra-low power mobile devices. The devices are pretty small, measuring just 1.4mm by 1.48mm by 0.45mm and so are able to fit almost anywhere.
Technical aspects of the devices includes hard IP for strobe generators, I2C and SPI interfaces, enabling the new iCE40LM FPGAs to deliver near-zero latency to the mobile market. This supports implementation of context-aware systems with real-time capturing of user and environmental inputs with minimal delay or error. This means mobile products will be able to deliver media-rich experiences based on movement, travel direction, location and other interactions with the environment.
The small size of the new iCE40 FPGAs supports advanced functions such as IrDA, barcode emulation, service LED, and more in a single chip with available logic for addition customer defined functions.
Interestingly, the company claims it has proven that the FPGAs can reduce power consumption by some 100 times over traditional application processor-only implementations, in effect this means the devices are capable of increasing battery life which will please the end user.
The combination of ultra-low active power and the world’s smallest sensor management solution enables a completely new class of intelligent devices that know where they are and what they are doing,” said Joy Wrigley, Senior Product Line Manager for Lattice’s Ultra-Low Density Families.
“We’re investing in packaging technologies that integrate more function and shrink system size, allowing OEMs to affordably integrate a greater variety and number of sensors into their mobile systems. Context awareness is truly a game changer in the mobile industry and iCE40LM sensor solutions enable designers to access this differentiation immediately.”
The new FPGAs give mobile device system architects the ability to add and/or customise sensor management functions and capabilities using a single, simple platform that can be implemented across different designs. The new additions include the iCE40LM 4K, iCE40LM 2K, iCE40LM 1K FPGAs and consume very little power, just under 1 mW in active mode.
The company advises its iCE40LP FPGA product line is being expanded through the addition of a new 16-ball WLCSP (wafer-level chip-scale) package for both the iCE40LP 640 FPGA and iCE40LP 1K FPGA to further drive down the footprint of the this family.
Lattice Semiconductor
