FPGA VS MICROCONTROLLER!

I get this question a lot: when do we use an FPGA over a standard microcontroller? 🤔 Some even ask *what* is an FPGA. 100% valid questions ‼️

Most of us are familiar with MCUs (microcontrollers), even if not by name. You would have seen this friendly neighbour ✨everywhere✨

From your clever home thermostats to your fitness trackers. This little MCU collects data from your steps, heartbeat, and more, then chats with your phone to show your progress. They will have integrated peripherals like analog-to-digital converters, timers, and communication interfaces such as UART, SPI, and I2C. Super easy to use and cheap 🤑

An FPGA on the other hand is here for the heavy computational stuff, like image and video processing in medical imaging devices 📹🩻🩺 FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) are lightning-fast traffic controllers for things like busy mobile networks too! 📲 They help manage countless calls, texts, and data transfers, making sure everything flows smoothly.

You might hear the phrase “highly parallel processing of signals” which means that they can process multiple signals simultaneously: making them fast. SUPER fast 💨

Ultimately, your choice between FPGA and MCU depends on factors like power consumption, development time, cost, and the nature of your project. In some cases, a combination of both FPGA and MCU can even be used effectively! ✨