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A programmable logic device (PLD) is an integrated circuit that a user configures to perform digital logic functions. Rather than being limited to one fixed logic design, a PLD can be programmed for a particular combination of inputs, outputs, and logic operations. The term covers several device families, from simple programmable logic devices to CPLDs and FPGAs.
What does PLD mean?
PLD stands for programmable logic device. NASA’s Software Engineering Handbook defines a PLD as an integrated circuit that can be configured by a user to implement digital logic functions. In practical terms, a designer specifies the logic the chip should perform and configures the device to implement it. NASA’s PLD definition
PLD is an umbrella term, not the name of one particular architecture. Commonly discussed families include simple PLDs (SPLDs), complex PLDs (CPLDs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Some classifications also include programmable read-only memories (PROMs). The boundaries and labels can vary with historical or technical context; Microchip, for example, groups its electronic PLD offerings into SPLDs and CPLDs. Microchip’s overview of PLD types and its SPLD/CPLD portfolio
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PAL: simple programmable logic
A programmable array logic (PAL) device uses programmable AND terms feeding fixed OR terms. This arrangement lets a designer implement logic equations in a compact chip, often replacing several discrete logic functions—a use commonly called glue logic. PALs are one type of simple PLD. Microchip’s PAL architecture description
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CPLD: more logic elements connected through interconnect
A complex programmable logic device (CPLD) has more macrocells than a PAL-style SPLD. Its logic elements and I/O are commonly connected through a centralized interconnect bus. That structure supports more complex designs while offering predictable timing characteristics, according to Microchip’s documentation. CPLDs are used for tasks such as I/O expansion, control, memory functions, and interfacing with different types of memory. Microchip’s CPLD description and Microchip’s SPLD/CPLD overview
FPGA: configurable logic and routing
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) contains configurable logic blocks and routing resources. Configuration bits determine how those resources implement a design. Microchip describes an FPGA as an integrated circuit designed to be configured by the user after manufacture—hence “field programmable.” Microchip Developer Help: “What is an FPGA?”
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Depending on the device, an FPGA may also include memory, math blocks, clocking resources, specialized I/O, processors, or analog blocks. Those additions are device-specific, not guaranteed features of every FPGA. The configurable logic can implement hardware functions such as accelerators, processors, pipelines, and peripherals. Microchip’s FPGA overview
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PLDs are useful when a circuit needs digital logic that can be configured for a specific design rather than supplied only as fixed-function logic. The appropriate family depends on the design’s logic, connectivity, I/O, and timing needs.
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- Glue logic: PALs can consolidate multiple small logic functions that connect other parts of a circuit.
- Control and interfacing: CPLDs can handle control logic, expand I/O, and interface with different memory types.
- More configurable hardware: FPGAs can be configured for functions such as processing pipelines, accelerators, and peripherals, with available resources varying by model.
What to compare when choosing between PLDs
There is no universal numerical ranking that makes every device in one family more capable than every device in another. Compare actual device specifications and the design you need to implement, including:
- Architecture and available logic resources
- Routing and interconnect structure
- I/O features and any integrated memory, processing, or specialized blocks
- How the device is configured, including whether configuration is volatile
- Timing behavior and the requirements of the intended application
These characteristics differ by architecture and device; the PLD label alone does not establish capacity, performance, or configuration behavior.
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