Lattice Semiconductor’s FPGAs Support Google’s Project Ara

Project Ara’s use of Lattice Semiconductor components allows its users to customize their smartphones on an integrated circuit level, making for unique smartphone experiences for each individual user. Lattice Semiconductor’s FPGAs help the engineers behind Google’s Project Ara deliver that sort of desired uniqueness. This project empowers its users to have a say in how the device is made, what it does, and how it looks. Never before could you make a choice about your phone’s exact functions and use it to tell a story specifically written by you.

Lattice Semiconductor uses an FPGA for Project Ara known as the LatticeECP3. An FPGA is a field-programmable gate array—an integrated circuit that is designed with the purpose of having a customer or designer configure it after it has been manufactured. This sort of technology is what allows someone other than the manufacturer decide how a device can work.

This specific FPGA was designed with high functionality in mind, while also keeping it at the smallest possible size. It consumes minimal power, is reliable, and lowers the cost of infrastructure equipment. It meets all of your connectivity and expansion needs.

Some of the specific features of LatticeECP3 FGPAs include:

Up to 16 channels at 3.125 Gbps
800 MBps DDR3, 1Gbps LVDS
Up to 586 programmable sysIO buffers with support for PCI Express, Ethernet (GbE, XAUI, & SGMII), HDMI, SMPTE, Serial Rapid I/O, CPRI and JESD204A/B and more
Up to 150 k LUTs and 6.8 Mbits of SRAM
Wide array of packages as small as 10.0 mm x 10.0 mm with power consumption below 0.5 W

The ultimate goal of Project Ara—though it a lofty one—is to provide this sort of technology to every adult on earth. Future Modular Developers Kits plan to implement the Lattice ECP5 FPGA.

Via our proprietary website ASAP Memory, ASAP Semiconductor is a leading supplier of Lattice Semiconductor products. Prospective customers can browse our inclusive inventory of hard-to-find obsolete and current Lattice parts at www.asap-memory.com . If you are interested in a part, please feel free to contact our knowledgeable sales staff at sales@asap-memory.com or 1-714-705-4780 for a quote.