What is a Field Programmable Analog Array (FPAA)? Why Anadigm? Tell more about AnadigmDesigner2 What are the advantages of FPAAs over conventional analog circuit design? Can I use FPAA as an instrumentation amplifier? How good is FPAA for sensor interfacing? Does ultra low frequency signals can be processed using FPAA? What is maximum frequency analog signal FPAA can handle? Does FPAA suits for low power applications? Does multiple FPAA can be chained for complex problems? Whether it is possible to interface an FPAA output with a microcontroller? Whether dynamic programming of FPAA possible? How to pragmatically access different ports of the multiplexed I/O? What is the use of EPROM ? What is an ANALOGIC Protoboard? Where should I use the ANALOGIC Protoboard? What is included with ANALOGIC Protoboard? What can an ANALOGIC Protoboard do?
1.	What is a Field Programmable Analog Array (FPAA)? An FPAA is an IC that can be programmed and reprogrammed to perform an open-ended set of analog circuit functions. Field Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAA) provide a very convenient medium in which analog circuits and systems can be designed and implemented in a very short time frame. Using the graphical AnadigmDesigner®2 CAD software and its library of pre-tested analog circuit functions, a designer can very quickly put together a sophisticated circuit that would previously have taken weeks to design and test. The circuit configuration files are downloaded into the FPAA from a PC or system controller or from an attached EEPROM, producing a fully functional analog circuit. The circuit configuration is completely changeable at any time, either as a new download or with “on the fly” updates to an already functioning configuration.
2.	Why Anadigm? Anadigm has many important patents developing Field Programmable Analog Arrays and is the world leader in FPAA technology. Anadigm is also providing an IDE where designer can design there circuit, simulate and download the design to FPAA. click here to know more about Anadigm
3.	Tell more about AnadigmDesigner2. Anadigm has created a graphical design environment that runs in Microsoft® Windows® where you as the designer select from a large library of pre-tested analog functions and then place and connect them to create the desired circuit. Selecting the “Download” button compiles a configuration file and downloads it over the RS-232 serial port into the Anadigm FPAA. The compile and download process takes just a few seconds. The Anadigm FPAA is completely reconfigurable. To adjust a parameter or to make a major change, just download a new file. You can download, measure, change and download again in less than a minute. AnadigmDesigner2 handles all of the internal details of the FPAA configuration for you. For system installations requiring a continuous stream of configuration updates (e.g. a multi-channel measurement system with per channel on-the-fly calibrations per channel), AnadigmDesigner2 delivers C-code representations of the analog functions that you put into your system level control code.
4.	What are the advantages of FPAAs over conventional analog circuit design? Speed of design – FPAA circuit design is much faster than previous draw, simulate, breadboard, and test methods. It takes less than a minute to create a simple tone generator, and in another minute you can change it to something else. Productivity – Designers are much more productive using CAD tools with a library of pre-tested circuit functions than by hand designing each function from scratch. Inventory simplification – One FPAA part can be used in many different products. Time, labor, parts cost, and parts inventory management costs are all reduced. Stability – Anadigm FPAAs provide incredibly stable performance over time and over a very wide range of operating temperatures. Life-cycle cost reduction – FPAAs greatly reduce product life-cycle costs associated with changes and maintenance updates. FPAAs replace single function analog ICs subject to obsolescence with a general purpose reprogrammable component. Design reusability – Completed FPAA analog circuit designs are reusable for new designs and are transferable to successive generations of FPAAs System-on-a-chip – Like FPGAs, FPAAs now have enough internal resources for complete system-on-a chip functionality.
5.	Can I use FPAA as an instrumentation amplifier? Yes. Even though FPAA does not contain any instrumentation amplifier as such, since Anadigm FPAA is based on fully differential amplifier architecture instrumentation amplifier can be implemented by connecting input signal to any one of the I/O block and provide some gain to the input signal. All the input and output blocks of FPAA are differential, the user can easily connect the input of the instrumentation amplifier to any one of the input block and the output can be monitored from any one of the remaining I/O block. The instrumentation amplifier can be implemented with the help of any gain controlling CAM. The gain of the instrumentation amplifier is decided by the gain of the CAM. The CMRR ratio of the instrumentation amplifier implemented using Inverting Gain Stage Cam will be 77 dB with a noise figure of 0.13 µV/sqrtHz and the signal to noise ratio and distortion is 80db. The CMRR vale, noise margin etc all depends upon the CAM selected..
6.	How good is FPAA for sensor interfacing? FPAA’s can be used for signal conditioning of various sensor signals. In FPAA the 1:4 multiplexed inputs is designed with the prime focus to provide sensor interface. Various sensors like photodiodes, thermistors, pressure sensors, and LVDT select can be interface with sensors easily.
7.	Does ultra low frequency signals can be processed using FPAA? Yes, Ultra low frequency signal can be processed by FPAA. For processing such ultra low frequencies the user must change the system clock frequency to suit the application. System Clock setting can be changed from Anadigm Designer2 software from the Setting -> Active Chip Setting menu.
8.	What is maximum frequency analog signal FPAA can handle? The typical signal bandwidth of FPAA is 2MHz, but it can support up-to 8MHz analog signal
9.	Does FPAA suits for low power applications? Yes..! The FPAA are suitable for low power applications. But to some extent.
10.	Does multiple FPAA can be chained for complex problems? Multiple FPAA can be chained for complex problems. If the design is big enough so that it cannot be accommodated in a single FPAA, then user can download the design in multiple FPAA with single download. The cascading of FPAA can be done by cascading 11 pins of FPAA. Different FPAA families also can be cascaded for complex design.
11.	Whether it is possible to interface an FPAA output with a microcontroller? Yes, the user can connect FPAA outputs to a microcontroller for further processing. But only the dedicated output can be connected to the microcontroller, because these are the only ports which can be configured as digital outputs. For microcontroller interface the output ports have to be configured as digital outputs and the signal connected to these ports should be passes through a SAR ADC CAM. The 2 pin interface will contain synchronization clock in positive output clock and serial digital data on the negative output.
12.	Whether dynamic programming of FPAA possible? Dynamic programming of FPAA is possible using with the help of dynamic configuration provided by Anadigm Designer2 software. Dynamic configuration can be done through Algorithm method and State Driven method. Both these method provides C code of the current design. These codes can be called by any application compatible and using the program the parameters of the design can be changed. The changed parameter can be communicated back to the FPAA through serial port with the help of boot kernel. VC++ prototyping provides the user with a project environment in VC++ platform to work with both Algorithm method and State driven method codes of the current design where he can manipulate the parameters of the design.
13.	How to pragmatically access different ports of the multiplexed I/O? Multiplexed I/O’s can be accessed through program with the help of State Driven Method. When this method is selected the user will be provided with C-code in which a particular port can be accessed based on a particular event.
14.	What is the use of EPROM ? Once the designer is satisfied with design then he can write the configuration bit into an SPI EPROM which will configure the FPAA on power on reset in EPROM mode.
15.	What is an ANALOGIC Protoboard? ANALOGIC development board is used for prototyping analog based designs using Field Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAA) technology developed by ni2 designs, Pune. ANALOGIC protoboard is provided with an AN221E04 FPAA.
16.	Where should I use the ANALOGIC Protoboard? ANALOGIC protoboard can be used for prototyping simple to complex analog circuit designs. Some of the applications are listed below. • Real-time software control of analog system peripherals • Intelligent sensors • Adaptive filtering and control • Adaptive DSP front-end • Adaptive industrial control and automation • Self-calibrating systems • Compensation for aging of system components • Dynamic recalibration of remote systems • Ultra-low frequency signal conditioning • Custom analog signal processing
17.	What is included with ANALOGIC Protoboard? The features of ANALOGIC protoboard are given below. • FPAA AN221E04 based configurable analog design development board. • Dynamically reconfigurable through serial port. • Static reconfiguration SPI EPROM. • Compatible to AnadigmDesigner®2 software for downloading of design. • Analog interface blocks (7 nos) for level-shifting, amplifying, attenuating, filtering; 6 O/P blocks have differential to single-ended conversion of the signal. • Two Audio Jack ports for interfacing audio signals. • Banana headers for on board interfacing of signals. • Terminal screw headers for easy external world interface. • High speed/precision OP-AMPs used for signal conversion. • All analog interface blocks can be configured as input or output using jumpers. • Two dedicate output interface block, can also be configured as digital/analog. • Differential amplifier (High Bandwidth) for the dedicated output block. • Standard PC serial interface for downloading AnadigmDesigner®2 circuit files. • LED indication for successful programming & errors. • Ability to separate electrically, the digital section leaving a purely analog board with SPI EPROM and digital interface pins. • Two spare OP-AMPs powered to 5V that can be used as buffering analog signals, for filters, for reference voltages, or any function. • On-board 16-MHz oscillator module. • SMPS power supply.
18.	What can an ANALOGIC Protoboard do? ANALOGIC protoboard can be used for any analog signal processing. If the listing has to be made, then it would go endless. You can use it for prototyping of design at very early stages; it can be used for research scholars, for demonstration, for size reduction and many more….