Lattice adds sensor control to tiny low power FPGA

Lattice Semiconductor has added new hardwired IP functions to its iCE40 range of low power and low density FPGAs.

Lattice iCE40 FPGA

A new smaller package size is 1.4mm x 1.48mm x 0.45mm.

The iCE40LM FPGAs have hardwired IP for strobe generators, I2C and SPI interfaces.

The FPGAs with active power consumption of 1mW.

“This means it is an order of magnitude lower power than a microcontroller in senor applications,” said Ted Marena, marketing director, Lattice Semiconductor.

Target application is as a low cost multiple sensor controller where the device’s “near-zero latency” comes into play.

Lattice believes the low cost and low power of the FPGAs will make it suitable for mobile handset designs providing “context-aware systems with the real-time capturing of user and environmental inputs with minimal delay”.

Capabilities include infrared sensor control, barcode emulation and LED drivers.

New devices in the range include the iCE40LM with 4k look-up tables (LUTs) in a 1.71x 1.71mm package with hard IP for PLL, RGB/LED control, I2C and SPI.

The smaller 1k LUT device comes in a 1.4×1.48mm package.

Marena also expects the device to be used in tandem with a microcontroller in some applications.

“There may be need for processing a floating point algorithm which will need a microcontroller,” said Marena.

Lattice is also creating a reference design for a multiple sensor control board.