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Introduction FPGA is a product of further development on the basis of programmable devices such as PAL, GAL, and CPLD. It appears as a semi-custom circuit in the field of application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), which not only solves the shortcomings of the custom circuit, but also overcomes the limited number of gate circuits of the original programmable device. FPGA is often used in communication, network and other fields to process a large number of network data packets. It is also widely used in aerospace, military defense and other fields. As a hardware test platform before other chips are taped out, it plays an important role in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and other fields. FPGA Applications, Features and Selection Catalog Introduction Ⅰ FPGA Basic Architecture Ⅱ FPGA Basic Features Ⅲ FPGA Applications 3.1 Circuit Design 3.2 Product Design 3.3 System Application Ⅳ Vacuum Cleaner Based on FPGA 4.1 A Short Brief 4.2 The Composition of the Platform 4.3 Main Hardware Design 4.4 Program Design Points Ⅴ FAQ Ⅰ FPGA Basic Architecture FPGA consists of 6 parts, namely programmable input/output (I/O) unit, basic programmable logic unit, embedded RAM, abundant wiring resources, bottom embedded functional unit and embedded dedicated hard core. Figure 1. FPGA Basic Architecture Each unit is described as follows:🔺Programmable I/O UnitAt present, most FPGA I/O units are designed in programmable mode, that is, through the flexible configuration of software, they can adapt to different electrical standards and I/O physical characteristics; the matching impedance characteristics, the pull-up and pull-down resistors can be adjusted; the output drive current can be adjusted, etc.🔺Basic Programmable Logic UnitThe basic programmable logic unit of FPGA is composed of a look-up table (LUT) and a register. The look-up table completes the pure combinational logic function. FPGA internal registers can be configured as flip-flops with synchronous/asynchronous reset and set, clock enabled, or as latches. FPGA generally relies on registers to complete synchronous sequential logic design. Generally speaking, the configuration of a classic basic programmable unit is a register plus a LUT. However, the internal structures of registers and look-up tables of different manufacturers are different, so the combination modes are also different.An important aspect of learning the LUT and Register ratios of the underlying hive is device selection and sizing. In addition to the basic programmable logic units inside the FPGA, there are embedded RAM, PLL or DLL, dedicated Hard IP Core, etc. These modules can also be equivalent to a certain scale of system gates, so the simple and scientific method is use the number of Registers or LUTs of the device to measure.🔺Embedded RAMNow most FPGAs have embedded RAM, which can be configured as single-port RAM, dual-port RAM, pseudo-dual-port RAM, CAM, FIFO and other storage structures.CAM is the content address memory. The data written to the CAM is compared with every data stored in it and returns the addresses of all internal data that are the same as the port data. Simply put, RAM is a storage unit for writing addresses and reading data, while CAM is just the opposite of RAM. In addition to block RAM, Xilinx and Lattice FPGAs can flexibly configure LUTs into storage structures such as RAM, ROM, and FIFO.🔺Rich Wiring ResourcesThe routing resources connect all the units in the FPGA, and the length and process of the connection determine the driving ability and transmission speed of the signal on the connection. Here the division of wiring resources:1) Full dedicated routing resources: Complete the routing of the global clock and global reset/set within the device.2) Long-term resources: Used to complete the wiring of some high-speed signals and some second global clock signals between device banks.3) Short-circuit resources: Used to complete the logic interconnection and wiring between basic logic units.4) Others: There are various wiring resources and control signal lines such as dedicated clock and reset in the logic unit.In the design process, the place and router often automatically selects the available routing resources to connect the underlying unit modules used according to the topology and constraints of the input logic netlist, so routing resources are often ignored. In fact, the optimization of routing resources is directly related to the use and implementation results.🔺The bottom layer is embedded with functional units, and the resources embedded by different manufacturers will be different.🔺Embedded dedicated hard coreDifferent from the "low-level embedded unit", the hard cores here are mainly those with relatively weak generality, and not all FPGA devices contain hard cores.   Ⅱ FPGA Basic Features 1) Using FPGA to design ASIC circuit (application-specific integrated circuit), users can get suitable chips without film production.2) FPGA can be used as a mid-scale sample for other full-custom or semi-custom ASIC circuits.3) There are abundant triggers and I/O pins inside the FPGA.4) FPGA is one of the devices with the shortest design cycle, the lowest development cost and the lowest risk in the ASIC circuit.5) FPGA adopts high-speed CMOS technology with low power consumption and is compatible with CMOS and TTL levels. Figure  2. FPGA Chip Ⅲ FPGA Applications 3.1 Circuit Design Connection logic and control logic are the areas where FPGA played a relatively important role in the early days and are also the cornerstone of FPGA applications. In fact, it is still quite difficult to apply FPGA in circuit design, which requires developers to have corresponding hardware knowledge (circuit knowledge) and software application capabilities (development tools). So talents in this area are always in short supply, and they are often engaged in new technologies. The successful product development of new products will become the mainstream basic products in the market for designers to apply. In the near future, the design of general-purpose and special-purpose IP will become popular. 3.2 Product Design Apply relatively mature technology to some specific fields such as communication, video, information processing, etc. to develop products that meet the needs of the industry and can be accepted by industry customers. This aspect is mainly a combination of FPGA and professional technology. In addition, there are product design for interface issues with professional customers also includes professional tool products and civilian products. The former focuses on performance, while the latter focuses on price-sensitive product design to achieve product functions as the main purpose.FPGA is a means of realization. In this field, it has the characteristics of interface, control, functional IP, embedded CPU, etc. to realize a system product design with simple structure, high degree of curing, and comprehensive functions for FPGA market. 3.3 System Application The system-level application is the combination of FPGA and traditional computer technology to realize an FPGA version of the computer system. For example, Xilinx V-4, V-5 series FPGA is used to realize the embedded POWER PC CPU, and then cooperate with various peripheral functions. To achieve a basic environment, running LINUX and other systems on this platform also supports various standard peripherals and functional interfaces, which is very helpful for quickly forming large-scale FPGA systems.In system-level applications, if the developers do not have the ability to expand the system, it is meaningless to just engage in programming. Of course, the development of device drivers is another case. The system-level application seems to have a high starting point, but it does not have deep development ability, it is likely to become a hobbyist, just like many people can make web pages but cannot be called programming.   Ⅳ Vacuum Cleaner Based on FPGA 4.1 A Short Brief Design of indoor intelligent vacuuming platform based on FPGA.Intelligent environmental cleaners have increasingly become the focus of research because they can replace people in environmental cleaning. Although they achieve intelligence, most of them have complex structures and high integration, which are not conducive to developers to expand their functions. On the basis of researching and summarizing the relatively mature products on the market, this paper designs and implements an indoor intelligent vacuuming platform based on a highly programmable FPGA. The platform has self-navigation, can clean most of the space, and is compact in shape, stable in operation and low in noise. More importantly, it has a simple structure and a user-friendly interface, which is convenient for further development of operation and functions. Figure  3. Body Frame 4.2 The Composition of the Platform The overall frame design of the platform proposed in this paper is shown in Figure 3, and a car with four wheels is used as the carrier of the entire platform. The FPGA controller is used as the main controller of the entire platform, and is connected to the photoelectric sensors jk1, jk2, jk3, jk4 and the collision switch jk5 through I/O to realize the detection of platform obstacles. Then output PWM waveform through I/O to drive speakers and high-low, and the change of the level drives the on and off of the LED to form an acousto-optic circuit. Finally the stepper motor dj1, dj2 and the DC dust collection motor dj3 are driven by controlling the signal control line of the motor driver to realize the movement and dust collection of the platform. 4.3 Main Hardware Design The system is mainly composed of FPGA main control chip, photoelectric sensor, collision switch, wireless remote control transmitter module controlled by two STC89C52 microcontrollers, two mode selection chips, acousto-optic circuit, drive motor, vacuum cleaner motor and the power supply circuit of the whole system, such as as shown in the Figure 4. Figure  4. Main Control System 🔺FPGA Chip SelectionAccording to the overall design of the platform, the basic requirements for the chip can be drawn:(1) At least 6 PWM waveform outputs are required.(2) One serial communication interface is required.(3) A real-time chip that requires a higher 12 V to be converted to 3.3 V.(4) Higher processing speed.(5) There are more I/O interfaces.Taking these conditions into consideration, the EP2C35F672C6 model in the CycloneII series FPGA produced by Altera can basically meet the requirements. It has excellent operation speed, low cost and DSP module, large internal memory, multi-channel PWM output, flexible design and comprehensive use of multiple languages, and the cost performance is relatively high.🔺Configuration Circuit Design Points(1) Power supply circuit: The power supply system uses 12V power supply as the input power supply, uses L7805CV to step down it to 5V, and then converts 5V to 3.3V and 1.2V by TPS37HD301. The power supply point of the I/O port of the FPGA is 3.3V, the core supply voltage is 1.2V. Because the motor drive system uses the 5V signal of the controller, and the port voltage of the FPGA is 3.3V, the I/O voltage must be boosted to 5V, and the 74HCT245 boost chip is used here.(2) Clock and reset circuit: ZPB-26-16 M is an active crystal oscillator in the clock circuit, and the frequency is 16MHz, which makes the serial port baud rate more accurate. At the same time, it can support the PPL function and ISP download function inside the chip. The reset circuit takes hardware reset and software reset.(3) Debug JTAG and download circuit: Because the soft core ISP and JTAG can be built directly inside the FPGA, the hardware circuit is connected to a JTAG interface of IDC-10.(4) Configuration storage circuit: EPCS16 is selected as the ROM of the FPGA, which can be repeatedly programmed by the download cable or other equipment, and can also be programmed online through the AS interface. Use the 4MHz On-Chip memory inside the FPGA chip as the RAM of the FPGA.(5) Sensor and collision switch: E3F-DS5C4.P1R photoelectric switch, used to detect obstacles and stairs, which is a cylindrical diffusion type with a maximum distance of 5cm, or an adjustable NPN type normally open photoelectric switch. The collision switch mainly cooperates with the front sensor to protect the front of the platform. When the platform hits the obstacle ahead, trigger the switch to make the platform avoid the obstacle.(6) Wireless sending and receiving module: XL02-232AP1 wireless module is a half-duplex wireless transmission module with UART interface, which can work in the 433MHz public frequency band and meet the wireless regulatory requirements.(7) Drive and vacuum motor: The platform adopts the front wheel dual drive, the motor selects the two-phase hybrid stepping type, and the vacuum cleaner motor adopts the DC motor. The main electrical parameters of the stepping motor are: ① Step angle: 1.8°② Phase current: 0.87 A③ Holding torque: 0.24 nm④ Phase resistance: 3.3 Ω⑤ Phase inductance: 5.0 mH⑥ Weight: 0.2 kg(8) Sound and light circuit and automatic cleaning time input display circuit: The sound and light circuit is mainly composed of light-emitting diodes and buzzers, which are directly connected to the FPGA to remind the working state of the platform. Use 4 buttons (OK, Initial, Up, Down) to input the cleaning time, and then three digital tubes display the set time. The cleaning time is counted by the timer inside the FPGA. When the timer is completed, the platform stops working. 4.4 Program Design Points Divide the program into two parts: hardware programming and software programming. For hardware programming, timing simulation of hardware circuits is required to determine the effect of debugging.🔺Hardware Programming and SimulationThe platform mainly generates input signals through sensors and collision switches, and processes the signals through FPGA. Finally, the FPGA transmits the processed signals to the motor, and the motor completes a series of actions, as shown in Table 1. So its logic design is the key to realize intelligence. After the hardware selection is completed, use Quartus II to build the hardware schematic diagram. After compiling, perform timing simulation on jk1, jk2, jk3, and jk4, analyze the timing relationship, estimate the performance of the design, and check and eliminate competition risks.Table 1: Relationship between Motor Status and Platform Working Status. dj1 dj2 dj3 Cleaner Status Turn Forward Turn Forward ON Vacuuming Forward Turn Back Turn Forward ON Vacuuming Left Turn Forward Turn Back ON Vacuuming Right Turn Back Turn Back ON Vacuuming Back The realization of platform work in automatic cleaning mode depends on the cooperative work of sensors (jk1, jk2, jk3, jk4) and motors (dj1, dj2, dj3), and the logical relationship is designed according to their functions.Table 2: Relationship between Sensor Status and Platform Working Status. jk1 jk2 jk3 jk4 Cleaner Status 1 1 1 1 Vacuuming Forward 1 1 0 1 Vacuuming Left 1 0 1 1 Vacuuming Right 1 0 0 1 Vacuuming Forward 0 1 0 1 Vacuuming Forward (Turn 90° Left)  0 0 1 1 Vacuuming Forward (Turn 90° Right)  0 0 0 1 Vacuuming Back When the hardware selection is completed, use Quartus II to build the hardware schematic diagram. After compiling, perform timing simulation on jk1, jk2, jk3, and jk4 to analyze the timing relationship.🔺Software ProgrammingAfter the hardware design and debugging is completed, the software system design is also carried out. Write a C program in a C language file to program the SoPC. The overall algorithm flow of the platform work is shown in Figure 5. When the platform is powered on, firstly enter the automatic cleaning and manual remote cleaning mode. After the automatic cleaning mode is selected, input the working time of the platform's automatic cleaning through the keyboard, and use the sensor to judge whether it encounters obstacles or stairs during the cleaning process. Through the interrupt, check whether the set time is reached at all times. If not, the program will return to running. However, if the set time is up, the program will end and the platform will stop working. When remote cleaning is selected, platform movement is controlled by the operator. Figure 5. Algorithm Flowchart Through hardware selection, construction and debugging, and software language writing and debugging, a simple platform has been successfully made, and various predetermined functions have been realized. Compared with similar products on the market, its structure is simpler, the cost is lower, the flexibility and scalability are stronger, and it provides a hardware-supported platform for researchers to develop more functions, which has practical value. As microprocessors continue to advance and sensing technology evolves, their performance can continue to improve and costs can continue to decline. However, in the process of simulation and implementation, it is found that its specific process algorithm is not rigorous enough, and it is necessary to continue to improve it in the future.   Ⅴ FAQ 1. What is FPGA architecture?The field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit that consists of internal hardware blocks with user-programmable interconnects to customize operation for a specific application. 2. What are the parts of an FPGA?Structure of an FPGAConfigurable Logic Block (CLB)Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Slice.Transceivers.Block Random Access Memory (BRAM)Input/Output (IO) Blocks. 3. What is a basic unit of an FPGA?The configurable logic blocks (CLBs) are the basic logic unit of an FPGA. Sometimes referred to as slices or logic cells, CLBs are made up of two basic components: flip-flops and lookup tables (LUTs). 4. What is FPGA and its types?FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array which is an IC that can be programmed to perform a customized operation for a specific application. They have thousands of gates. In the field of VLSI FPGAs have been very popular. 5. What is the function of FPGA?FPGAs are mainly used to design application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). First, you design the architecture of such a circuit. Then, you use an FPGA to build and check its prototype. Errors can be corrected. 6. What is FPGA and its application?The FPGA is Field Programmable Gate Array. It is a type of device that is widely used in electronic circuits. FPGAs are semiconductor devices which contain programmable logic blocks and interconnection circuits. It can be programmed or reprogrammed to the required functionality after manufacturing. 7. What are the advantages of FPGA?FPGA advantagesLong-term availability.Updating and adaptation at the customer.Very short time-to-market.Fast and efficient systems.Acceleration of software.Real-time applications.Massively parallel data processing. 8. What is inside CLB in FPGA?A configurable logic block (CLB) is the basic repeating logic resource on an FPGA. When linked together by routing resources, the components in CLBs execute complex logic functions, implement memory functions, and synchronize code on the FPGA. 9. What are the main applications of FPGAs?Main FPGA applications are: Medical, video & image processing, telecom & datacom, server & cloud and defense and space. FPGA chips are used in both wired and wireless communications. 10. What are the industrial applications of FPGA boards?Such applications include multiple sensor dome cameras, HD (High Definition) cameras, night-vision cameras, etc. FPGAs provide the differentiation factor and the processing power to implement such complex solutions. 11. What are the applications of CPLDs and FPGAs?Applications of CPLDCPLDs can be used as bootloaders for FPGAs and other programmable systems. CPLDs are often used as address decoders and custom state machines in digital systems. Due to their small size and low power consumption, CPLDs are ideal for use in portable and handheld digital devices. 12. What programmable technology is used in a FPGA devices?FPGA emerged from relatively simpler technologies such as programmable read-only memory (PROM) and programmable logic devices (PLDs) like PAL, PLA, or Complex PLD (CPLD). It consists of three main parts: Configurable Logic Blocks — which implement logic functions. Programmable Interconnects — which implement routing. 13. What are the features of FPGA?The basic features of FPGA are: 1) FPGA design ASIC circuit, the user does not need to chip production, you can get a combination of chips. - 2) FPGA can do all other custom or semi-custom ASIC circuit of the sample sample. 3) FPGA has a rich internal trigger and I / O pin. 14. Is a FPGA a computer?An FPGA is a chip consisting of a series of logic blocks which can be modified and configured by the user. ... FPGA are programmable chips and their functionality can be updated multiple times. FPGAs come in array of size and prices and are most likely used in low-mid size volume products.

Introduction When the reverse bias voltage applied to the PN junction increases to a certain value, the phenomenon that the reverse current density suddenly begins to increase rapidly is called PN junction breakdown. From the mechanism, it can be divided into three categories: avalanche breakdown, tunnel breakdown and thermoelectric breakdown. Among them, there are two physical mechanisms for forming reverse breakdown in PN junction: zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown. Generally, both breakdowns coexist. So what is the difference between them? Avalanche Breakdown and Zener Breakdown Effect Explained Catalog Introduction Ⅰ Basic Characteristics 1.1 Avalanche Effect 1.2 Zener Effect Ⅱ Zener Effect vs Avalanche Effect Ⅲ Transistor Secondary Breakdown and Protection 3.1 A Brief Description 3.2 Cause of Breakdown 3.3 Precaution 3.4 Snubber Circuit Examples Ⅳ FAQ Ⅰ Basic Characteristics 1.1 Avalanche Effect As the reverse voltage increases, the electric field in the space charge region strengthens, and the energy obtained by the carriers in the barrier region also increases. When the reverse voltage is close to the breakdown voltage, these carriers with higher energy meet the neutral atoms in the space charge region and cause collision ionization, generating new electron-hole pairs. These newly generated electrons and holes will regain energy under the action of the electric field, collide with other neutral atoms to ionize them, and generate more electron-hole pairs. With reaction continues, causing the number of carriers in the space charge region to increase sharply, just like an avalanche, what’s more, the reverse current also increase sharply, resulting in breakdown. So this breakdown is called avalanche breakdown (or avalanche effect).This breakdown generally occurs in PN junctions with lower doping concentration and higher applied voltage. Because a PN junction in this state has a wider space charge region and more opportunities for impact ionization. Figure 1. Zener Breakdown vs Avalanche Breakdown 1.2 Zener Effect When the reverse voltage increases to a certain value, a strong electric field can be established in the barrier region, which can directly pull out the valence electrons bound in the covalent bond, so that a large number of electron-holes are generated in the barrier region. Then a large reverse current is formed, resulting in breakdown. At this time, atoms in the barrier region are directly excited under the action of a strong electric field is called Zener effect/breakdown. It is caused by the tunneling effect in quantum mechanics. Giving a simple metaphor, the simple understanding is that the two lines are too close, and they pass through directly. At this time, the potential barrier loses its function of blocking electrons, and a breakdown occurs.Zener breakdown generally occurs in PN junctions with higher doping concentrations. This is because the PN junction under this situation has a large charge density and a narrow width in the space charge region. As the temperature increases, the energy gap decreases, and a breakdown can be resulted in with a small reverse voltage. Figure 2. PN Junction Ⅱ Zener Effect vs Avalanche Effect 1) Zener effect mainly depends on the maximum electric field in the space charge region, and in the collision ionization mechanism is related to both the field strength and the collision accumulation process of carriers. Obviously, the wider the space charge region, the more times of multiplication, so the avalanche breakdown is not only related to the electric field, but also related to the width of the space charge region, which requires the thickness of the PN junction.2) Because avalanche breakdown is the result of impact ionization. If we increase the electrons and holes in the space charge region by means of illumination or fast particle bombardment, they will also have a multiplier effect. However, the above external effects will not have a significant impact on the Zener breakdown.3) The breakdown voltage is determined by the tunnel effect, and its temperature coefficient is negative, that is, the breakdown voltage decreases with the increase of temperature, which is the result of the decrease of the forbidden band width with the increase of temperature. The breakdown voltage determined by avalanche multiplication decreases with the increase of temperature due to the impact ionization rate (the ionization rate represents the number of electron-hole pairs generated by a carrier drifting a unit distance under the action of an electric field), and its temperature coefficient is positive. That is, the breakdown voltage increases with temperature. Zener with voltage lower than 5-6V is mainly due to Zener breakdown; Zener with voltage higher than 5-6V is mainly due to avalanche breakdown. Zener diodes with a voltage between 5-6V have similar breakdown degrees and the best temperature coefficient, which is why many circuits use 5-6V Zener tubes. The principle of the Zener tube determines that its response speed is not very fast, so a tube reference voltage is used in occasions with high speed requirements.4) For the PN junction with higher doping concentration and thinner barrier, it is mainly Zener breakdown. The PN junction with lower doping and therefore wider potential barrier is mainly avalanche breakdown, and the breakdown voltage is relatively high.The PN junction breakdown is an important electrical property, and the breakdown voltage limits the working voltage of the circuit, so semiconductor devices have certain requirements for the breakdown voltage. However, a variety of devices such as Zener diodes, avalanche diodes, and tunnel diodes can be fabricated by using the breakdown phenomenon.Under normal circumstances, the avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown are within a certain range of conditions (breakdown voltage, time), with the normal working conditions are restored, are reversible. If it is only for protection, the TVS voltage regulator tube is mainly used for voltage regulation. The smaller the current passing through, the better. When the instantaneous voltage exceeds the normal working voltage of the circuit, the TVS diode will avalanche, providing an ultra-low resistance path for the instantaneous current, which is diverted through the diode, avoiding the protected device. In additional, the protected circuit keeps the cut-off voltage until the voltage returns to normal value. When the instantaneous pulse ends, the TVS diode automatically returns to the high resistance state, and the entire circuit entering the normal voltage, the failure mode of the TVS tube is mainly short circuit. But when the overcurrent passed is too large, it may also cause the TVS tube to be burst and open. Figure 3. TVS Diode Ⅲ Transistor Secondary Breakdown and Protection 3.1 A Brief Description In most switching power supplies, power switching transistors work under high-voltage, high-current high-frequency pulses, and switching on and off under such conditions will cause a great impact on the transistors. Secondary breakdown is one of the important causes of transistor damage. To design a high-performance, high-reliability switching power supply, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the secondary breakdown of transistors and avoidance measures. 3.2 Cause of Breakdown The secondary breakdown is mainly caused by the high local temperature in the device body. The temperature rise is caused by thermal imbalance when forward biased and avalanche breakdown when reverse biased.Because the thermal resistance of the transistor is unevenly distributed throughout the tube, in some weak areas, the temperature rise will be higher than other parts, forming a so-called "hot spot", and so on until a critical temperature, causing the breakdown of the tube. The secondary breakdown caused by the avalanche breakdown is a phenomenon in which the electric field distribution of the junction is changed due to the excessive current density at some points after the primary avalanche breakdown occurs, resulting in a negative resistance effect and the local temperature is too high. 3.3 Precaution Turn-on and turn-off losses are important factors that affect the normal operation of switching devices. In particular, the transistor is prone to secondary breakdown in the dynamic process, and this phenomenon is directly related to the switching loss. Therefore, reducing the switching loss of the self-shutdown device is a necessary measure for the correct use of the device. There are two ways to reduce losses:(1) Turn off the transistor at the lowest possible collector-emitter voltage (Vce).(2) When the transistor is turned off during the rise of the emitter voltage, the emitter current should be minimized. For example, introducing a buffer circuit is one of the ways to achieve the above purpose. 3.4 Snubber Circuit Examples The following snubber circuits can be used in the design of switching power supplies to ensure that the transistors operate within a safe area.1) The commonly one is an energy-consuming shutdown snubber circuit. Although it consumes more energy, this circuit is simple. Figure 4. Commonly Used Shutdown Snubber Circuit It consists of an RCD network connected in parallel with transistor switches. When the transistor is turned off, the load current charges the capacitor C through the diode D, so that the collector current of the tube gradually decreases. Because the voltage across the capacitor C cannot be abruptly changed, its collector voltage is restrained. The situation where the collector voltage and current reach their maximum values at the same time is avoided, so there is no maximum instantaneous power consumption spike. When the tube is turned on, the capacitor releases energy and dissipates it in the resistor.2) Two commonly used energy-consuming turn-on snubber circuits.a. An inductor-diode network is connected in series with the transistor collector to form a turn-on snubber circuit. When the tube is turned on, the inductance Ls controls the current rise rate di/dt during the collector voltage drop. When the tube is turned off, the energy stored in the inductor Ls 1/2 freewheels through the diode Ds, and its energy is dissipated in the resistance of Ds and the reactor. Figure 5. Open Snubber Loop with Unsaturated Reactance b. Turn-on snubber circuit with saturable reactor: The purpose of using turn-on snubber circuit is to make the collector voltage drop to 0 when the collector current of the transistor is small, so as to minimize the turn-on loss. Especially for inductive loads, the effect is more significant. The designed saturable reactor should be: in one hand, after the collector voltage drops to zero, the buffer reactor is in a saturated state; in the other hand, before saturation, the collector voltage drops to zero, the reactor presents a high resistance, and the magnetizing current flowing through the tube is small to achieve the purpose of reducing turn-on loss. Figure 6. Open Snubber Circuit with Saturable Reactance 3) In the figure, Co is a transfer capacitor, and Dc is a feedback diode. These two components feed back energy to the load. When the tube is turned off, the buffer capacitor Cs is charged to the power supply voltage Vcc, and when the tube is turned on next time, the load current is transferred from the freewheeling diode Df to the transistor. At the same time, the voltage on Cs resonates to Co. When the tube is turned off again, the Cs is charged again, the capacitor Co is discharged to the load, and the energy is fed back. Figure 7. Passive Feedback Shutdown Buffer Circuit 4) This circuit stores the magnetic field energy and feeds back to the power supply through the transformer. The transformer is wound with two wires, and its primary side has a certain inductance; the polarity of the width side is opposite to that of the primary side, and a reverse diode is connected. When the tube is turned on, the primary side bears all the power supply voltage, and the secondary side has no energized circuit. When the tube is turned off, the polarity of the induced voltage on the secondary side is reversed, and when its voltage is higher than the power supply voltage Vcc, energy is fed to the power supply. Figure 8. Passive Feedback Opens the Buffer Circuit 5) The turn-on snubber circuit and the turn-off snubber circuit are combined to form a composite snubber circuit, and the composite snubber circuit has a protective effect when the transistor is turned on and off. This kind of circuit is also divided into two types: energy consumption and energy feeding.a. When the tube is turned on, the snubber capacitor is discharged through the Cs, Rs, and Ls loops, which reduces the current rising rate that the tube bears. In addition, when the tube is turned on, the inductance Ls can also limit the reverse recovery current of the freewheeling diode Df. Figure 9. Energy-consuming Composite Buffer Circuit b. When the transistor is turned off, the capacitor Co and the inductor Ls operate in parallel to feed the stored energy to the load. When the capacitor Co is discharged, the voltage on the inductor Ls gradually decreases to 0, and the load current is conducted through the freewheeling diode Df during this period. Figure 10. Energy-feeding Compound Snubber Circuit The various snubber circuits mentioned above can be divided into two types, namely energy-consuming and energy-feeding. The energy-consuming circuit is simple but relatively consumes more energy, and is suitable for the use of low-power circuits. The energy-feeding circuit is complex, but in a high-power supply, if the energy dissipated by the snubber circuit is dissipated in the form of heat, it is bound to cause a lot of trouble, so the energy-feeding buffer circuit should be used.   Ⅳ FAQ 1. What is a zener breakdown voltage?A normal p-n junction diode allows electric current only in forward biased condition. ... This sudden rise in electric current causes a junction breakdown called zener or avalanche breakdown. The voltage at which zener breakdown occurs is called zener voltage and the sudden increase in current is called zener current. 2. Which breakdown occurs in Zener diode?avalanche breakdownIn Zener diodes, avalanche breakdown occurs. When the Vz is greater than 8 volts in a Zener diode, avalanche breakdown occurs because there is an isolation of electrons and holes. 3. What is difference between avalanche and zener breakdown?The main difference between Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown is their mechanism of occurrence. Zener breakdown occurs because of the high electric field whereas, the avalanche breakdown occurs because of the collision of free electrons with atoms. Both these breakdowns can occur simultaneously. 4. How do you calculate Zener breakdown voltage?The reverse current that results after the breakdown, is called Zener current (Iz). At breakdown, increase of VI increases II by large amount, so that V0 = VI– RI II becomes constant. This constant value of V0 which is the reverse breakdown voltage, is called Zener voltage. 5. What is avalanche breakdown of diode?What is Avalanche Breakdown? The avalanche breakdown occurs when a high reverse voltage is applied across the diode. As we increase the applied reverse voltage, the electric field across the junction increases. This electric field exerts a force on the electrons at the junction and frees them from covalent bonds. 6. How does an avalanche breakdown take place?Avalanche breakdown usually occurs when a high reverse voltage is applied across the diode. So as we increase the applied reverse voltage, the electric field across the junction will keep increasing. This generated electric field exerts a force on the electrons at the junction and it frees them from covalent bonds. 7. What is avalanche effect of Zener diode?Avalanche breakdown involves minority carrier electrons in the transition region being accelerated, by the electric field, to energies sufficient for freeing electron-hole pairs via collisions with bound electrons. The Zener and the avalanche effect may occur simultaneously or independently of one another. 8. What do you mean by zener breakdown voltage?When reverse biased voltage applied to the zener diode reaches zener voltage, it starts allowing large amount of electric current. At this point, a small increase in reverse voltage will rapidly increases the electric current. Because of this sudden rise in electric current, breakdown occurs called zener breakdown. 9. Is Zener voltage the same as breakdown voltage?The breakdown voltage,commonly called the Zener voltage, is the reverse-biased voltage that causes the diode to conduct current. Breakdown voltages usually range from 2.4 V to hundreds of volts. 10. What is meant by Zener effect?The Zener effect is a type of electrical breakdown that occurs in a reverse-biased PN junction when the electric field enables tunnelling of electrons from the valence to the conduction band of a semiconductor, leading to a large number of free minority carriers which suddenly increase the reverse current. 11. Which factor is responsible for Zener effect?In effect, electrons from the p-side valence band are able to tunnel across the barrier into the empty states in the n-side conduction band when a small reverse bias is applied. The result is a strong current from n to p in the diode, causing zener breakdown. 12. What is valence breakdown?Avalanche breakdown (or “the avalanche effect”) is a phenomenon that can occur in both insulating and semiconducting materials. It is a form of electric current multiplication that can allow very large currents within materials which are otherwise good insulators. It is a type of electron avalanche.

SummaryUnderstanding the 5-pin relay is essential for modern automotive electrical work, from restoring classics to upgrading 2026 electric vehicle accessories. This guide covers the fundamentals of SPDT relays, detailed wiring instructions for positive and negative triggers, differentiation between relay types, and comprehensive troubleshooting using a digital multimeter.IntroductionManufactured in Europe to exacting original equipment standards under ISO9001 supervision, modern 5-pin relays are designed for resilience. These components feature silver contacts for long-lasting performance and typically include a removable metal mounting tab for versatile installation.As of 2026, high-quality automotive relays maintain a 500,000+ cycle rating and often include a braided power strap for increased reliability under thermal stress. They are available in various amp ratings (commonly 30A, 40A, or high-current 60A) in 12V, 24V, and occasionally 48V configurations for mild-hybrid systems. Most now include resistor or diode-style circuit protection to prevent voltage spikes from damaging sensitive onboard computers (ECUs).Figure 1: Standard automotive 5-pin relayⅠ What are 5 Pin Relays Used for?A relay with five pins typically utilizes two pins to operate the electromagnetic coil and three pins to function as an SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switch. This configuration includes:Common Contact (30): The main power source.Normally Open (NO) Contact (87): Connected only when energized.Normally Closed (NC) Contact (87a): Connected when unenergized.This setup is technically referred to as a Form C contact.While SPST NO (Single Pole Single Throw, Normally Open) relays are common for simple on/off tasks, the SPDT 5-pin relay allows for complex switching. It can toggle power between two circuits (e.g., switching between Daytime Running Lights and High Beams) or create a disabling circuit (e.g., a starter kill switch).In 2026, complex multi-pole relays like 2PDT and 4PDT are still used in industrial applications, but the 5-pin SPDT remains the workhorse of the automotive aftermarket.1.1 Why Do You Need a Relay?Relays are crucial in the automotive industry to separate high-amperage circuits from low-amperage controls. They allow you to use a delicate, low-current switch (or a signal from a Body Control Module) inside the cockpit to control a high-power device like a fuel pump, cooling fan, or light bar located elsewhere.Key Benefits:Voltage Drop Reduction: By keeping high-current wires short (battery to relay to component), you minimize voltage loss.Safety: If a 30A circuit were wired directly through a dashboard switch, the heat generated could melt the switch or cause a fire. A relay allows a tiny 5 amp signal to safely control that 30 amp load.The device depicted above is an electromagnetic attraction type relay. When the coil is energized, it generates a magnetic field that attracts a movable armature, physically closing or opening the contacts.Ⅱ How to Wire a 5 Pin RelayThe standard Bosch-style 5-pin relay uses an SPDT configuration. Here is the universal pinout logic:Pins 85 and 86: The Control Circuit (Coil). Sending power and ground to these creates the magnetic field.Pin 30: Common Power (Input). Usually connected to the battery via a fuse.Pin 87a: Normally Closed (Output). Has power when the relay is OFF.Pin 87: Normally Open (Output). Has power when the relay is ON.Typical Horn Circuit Example:Pin 30 connects to the battery (+) via a fuse. Pin 87 connects to the horn (Load). Pin 86 connects to 12V (+), and Pin 85 connects to the horn button (which grounds the circuit when pressed). When you press the horn, the coil activates, bridging Pin 30 to Pin 87, and the horn sounds.Note: In modern automotive design, it is standard practice to place the switch on the "ground" side (Pin 85) rather than the 12V side to reduce the risk of short circuits in the dashboard.2.1 5 Pin Relay DiagramThis diagram is versatile and applies to various 2026 applications, including:Reverse Camera Triggers: Activating a camera screen only when the reverse lights engage.Amplifier Turn-Ons: Using a remote output wire to power high-wattage audio equipment.High-Draw Accessories: Powering LED light bars, air compressors, or electric water pumps.2.2 How to Wire a 5 Pin Relay with a Positive TriggerIn a positive trigger system, the switch sends 12V (+) to the relay to activate it.Pin 30: High current 12V (+) input from battery (Fused).Pin 86: Signal wire from your dash switch (sends 12V when ON).Pin 85: Connected to Chassis Ground (-).Pin 87: Output to accessory (Lights/Fan/Horn).Pin 87A: Unused (Insulate this terminal).2.3 How to Wire a 5 Pin Relay with a Negative TriggerIn a negative trigger system (common in Japanese vehicles and modern alarms), the relay has constant 12V, and the switch provides the Ground (-).Pin 30: High current 12V (+) input from battery (Fused).Pin 86: Jumper wire from Pin 30 (or an ignition-switched 12V source).Pin 85: Connects to your switch (Switch then connects to Ground).Pin 87: Output to accessory.Pin 87A: Unused (Insulate this terminal).Note: With negative switching, you cannot easily use a standard lighted switch, as the switch lacks a direct 12V feed.Ⅲ Are all 5 Pin Relays the Same?No. While they may look identical externally, internal specifications vary significantly.The only guarantee is that they have 5 pins. Variations include:Coil Voltage: 12V is standard for cars, but 24V is used in heavy trucks, and 48V is emerging in hybrids. Plugging a 12V relay into a 24V system will instantly burn out the coil.Amperage Rating: Ranging from 20A to 80A. Using a 20A relay for a 40A fuel pump will fuse the contacts.Pin-out Configuration: While "Bosch Type" is standard, some manufacturers swap Pins 30 and 86. Always check the diagram printed on the relay case.Protection: Some relays contain internal flyback diodes or resistors to protect vehicle electronics. These are polarity-sensitive; wiring pins 85/86 backward on a diode-protected relay will cause a short circuit.Ⅳ How to Test a 5-pin Relay Using a Digital MultimeterBefore replacing components, it is vital to test the relay. A faulty relay is a common cause of electrical failure in aging vehicles. Here is the 2026 standard procedure for testing:4.1 Testing the Relay’s Coil (Pins 85 & 86)The coil should have specific resistance. Consult the manufacturer's datasheet (typically between 50Ω and 120Ω for 12V relays).Set your multimeter to the Ohms (Ω) setting (typically the 200Ω scale).Connect the probes to pins 85 and 86. Polarity does not matter for resistance testing.Result: If the meter reads within range (e.g., 75Ω), the coil is intact. If it reads "OL" (Open Loop) or infinite resistance, the coil wire is broken inside, and the relay must be replaced. If it reads 0Ω, the coil is shorted.4.2 Testing the Relay’s Terminals (Contacts)We must verify that the switching mechanism actually connects and disconnects as intended.4.3 Testing Normally Open Terminal (Pin 87)Set the multimeter to Ohms or Continuity mode.Connect probes to Pin 30 (Common) and Pin 87 (NO).Result: You should see "OL" or high resistance. This is correct because the relay is at rest (OFF). If you find continuity (near 0Ω) while the relay is on the bench, the contacts have welded together, and the relay is trash.4.4 Testing the Normally Closed Terminals (Pin 87a)Keep multimeter in Ohms/Continuity mode.Connect probes to Pin 30 and Pin 87a.Result: You should hear a beep or see near 0Ω resistance. This indicates the circuit is closed by default. If it reads "OL", the internal contact is damaged or corroded.4.5 Testing the Energized StateThis is the final verification.Use a 12V battery or bench power supply.Connect Positive to Pin 86 and Negative to Pin 85. You should hear a distinct "Click".While energized, measure resistance between Pin 30 and Pin 87.Result: It should now read 0Ω (Continuity). If it clicks but shows high resistance, the contacts are burnt (carbon buildup) and cannot carry high current.Pro Tip: Relays are generally non-serviceable. If any test fails, replace the unit. In an emergency, if Pin 87 is burnt but 87a works, you cannot swap them; you must replace the relay.Ⅴ FAQ1. What can perform the function of an SPST NC relay when actuated?An SPDT 5-pin relay can perform this function. By wiring your circuit to Pin 87a (Normally Closed), the device will turn OFF when you activate the switch, effectively acting as an NC relay.2. What is the blue wire on a 5 pin trailer plug?In trailer wiring, the blue wire in a 5-way flat connector usually controls the hydraulic lockout solenoid for surge brakes. When you put the vehicle in reverse, this wire energizes to disengage the trailer brakes, allowing you to back up without the brakes locking up. It can also power reverse lights on the trailer.3. Why does my trailer have 5 wires?A 5-wire harness connects the standard lighting (Left Turn, Right Turn, Running Lights, Ground) plus a fifth line, typically for reverse lights or disabling surge brakes. This is an upgrade over the standard 4-pin setup commonly found on boat trailers.4. What is the difference between a 4-pin and 5 pin trailer plug?The 4-pin plug handles basic legal lighting (Brake/Turn/Tail). The 5-pin plug adds a fifth wire (usually blue) specifically for reverse operations (backup lights or brake lockout). Ensure your tow vehicle is wired to support this fifth pin if your trailer requires it.5. Can a 5 pin relay be used in place of a 4 pin?Yes. A 5-pin SPDT relay fits into a 4-pin SPST socket perfectly in most Bosch-style applications. The extra pin (87a) will simply slide into the empty slot in the socket (or hang in the air) and remain unused. The relay will function exactly like a 4-pin relay.{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What can perform the function of an SPST NC relay when actuated?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An SPDT 5-pin relay can perform this function. By wiring your circuit to Pin 87a (Normally Closed), the device will turn OFF when you activate the switch, effectively acting as an NC relay." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the blue wire on a 5 pin trailer plug?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In trailer wiring, the blue wire in a 5-way flat connector usually controls the hydraulic lockout solenoid for surge brakes. When you put the vehicle in reverse, this wire energizes to disengage the trailer brakes, allowing you to back up without the brakes locking up. It can also power reverse lights on the trailer." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why does my trailer have 5 wires?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A 5-wire harness connects the standard lighting (Left Turn, Right Turn, Running Lights, Ground) plus a fifth line, typically for reverse lights or disabling surge brakes. This is an upgrade over the standard 4-pin setup commonly found on boat trailers." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between a 4-pin and 5 pin trailer plug?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The 4-pin plug handles basic legal lighting (Brake/Turn/Tail). The 5-pin plug adds a fifth wire (usually blue) specifically for reverse operations (backup lights or brake lockout). Ensure your tow vehicle is wired to support this fifth pin if your trailer requires it." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can a 5 pin relay be used in place of a 4 pin?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. A 5-pin SPDT relay fits into a 4-pin SPST socket perfectly in most Bosch-style applications. The extra pin (87a) will simply slide into the empty slot in the socket (or hang in the air) and remain unused. The relay will function exactly like a 4-pin relay." } } ]}

CatalogIntroductionⅠ What is a Starter Relay?1.1 Definition of the Starter Relay1.2 Starter Relay Wiring DiagramⅡ What is a Starter Solenoid?2.1 Definition of the Starter Solenoid2.2 Starter Solenoid Wiring Diagram2.3 What Wires Go to the Starter SolenoidⅢ Starter Relay Vs. Starter Solenoid3.1 Is the Starter Relay the Same as starter solenoid?3.2 Starter Relay Vs. Starter Solenoid3.3 3 Differences Between Starter Solenoid Switch & Starter RelayⅣ FAQsIntroductionThe starter solenoid is sometimes referred to as the starter relay, but in many vehicles, that term refers to a separate relay that supplies power to the starter solenoid. They share some characteristics, such as the use of coil winding and electromagnetism in their operation. However, there are numerous differences between a starter solenoid switch and a starter relay.How to Test a Starter Relay on a Motorcycle, ATV, or UTV | How to Test a Starter SolenoidⅠ What is a Starter Relay?1.1 Definition of the Starter RelayA relay is a switch that is powered by electricity. It has a set of input terminals for single or multiple control signals, as well as a set of operating contact terminals. The switch may have an unlimited number of contacts in various contact forms, such as make contacts, break contacts or combinations of the two.1.2 Starter Relay Wiring DiagramStarter Relay Wiring Diagram Starter relays can vary in appearance depending on brand and vehicle type. They do, however, operate in the same manner and serve the same purpose. When you look inside these components, you will notice that they have the same parts. A starter relay is made up of housing, coil windings, a magnetic core, and an armature or plunger. When starting a vehicle, the internal construction forms an electromagnetic switch that a driver operates remotely.Ⅱ What is a Starter Solenoid?2.1 Definition of the Starter SolenoidA starter solenoid is an electromagnet that is actuated to engage an internal combustion engine's starter motor. It is typically connected directly to the starter motor that it controls. Its primary function is to act as the actuating coil of a contactor (a relay designed for high currents) that connects the battery to the starter motor itself. The starter solenoid is also used in all modern cars to engage the starter pinion with the engine's ring gear.2.2 Starter Solenoid Wiring DiagramA starter solenoid has three terminals, one small pin-type and two thicker bolt-type.The "S" terminal is a small pin-type terminal. The "S" terminal is connected to the ignition switch circuit. This is known as the starter solenoid control wire, and it connects the ignition wire to the starter solenoid. The current is routed from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid via the fuse, the neutral safety switch, the starter relay, and finally the starter solenoid.The input terminal on the starter solenoid allows positive power from the battery to enter the solenoid, and the output terminal connects to the starter motor assembly.When you turn the ignition switch key, current flows from the ignition switch to the starter fuse, then to the neutral safety or clutch pedal safety switch, then to the fusebox starter relay, and finally to the starter solenoid "S" terminal. The camshaft sensor sends information to the ECM or PCM. The ECM or PCM decides to activate the starter relay by sending a signal to it.When the starter relay is turned on, the current is sent to the solenoid pin-type "S" terminal. When the current reaches the "S" terminal, it pulls the plunger inside the solenoid, connecting the two thicker terminals, and the current begins to flow directly from the battery to the starter motor assembly.2.3 What Wires Go to the Starter SolenoidThe wiring diagram for the starter solenoid is no longer a mystery. It is extremely simple. If you're not sure which wires connect to the starter solenoid. Here is a quick example.The "S" terminal of the Pin-types is connected to the Ignition Switch.The Bolt-type Feed Terminal connects to the positive power source of the battery.The starter motor assembly is connected to the Bolt-type Output Terminal.Ⅲ Starter Relay Vs. Starter Solenoid3.1 Is the Starter Relay the Same as starter solenoid?The starter relay is frequently mixed up with the starter solenoid. This could be because both serve as relays. However, contrary to popular belief, the two names do not refer to the same vehicle component. One is just a switch, while the other is both a switch and an actuator. Here are some of the differences between these two auto parts.3.2 Starter Relay Vs. Starter SolenoidA starter relay is smaller in size than a heavy-duty starter solenoid. It consists essentially of a magnetic core surrounded by a wire. An armature or plunger at one end of the core closes contacts to operate a switch. It is spring-loaded, which aids in pushing it away from the contacts when the core loses magnetism. A starter solenoid is typically larger than a starter relay. The internal construction of the solenoid consists of two wire coils and a magnetic core at one end. With a return spring on one end, the core is free to move in and out. The other end contains the various connectors and is where the current enters the solenoid.The starter relay and starter solenoid function nearly identically. An electromagnetic field is created when a current flows through the coil winding. Magnetism moves an armature or plunger in a starter relay to close a circuit.The magnetic force created by current flowing through the coil in a starter solenoid causes the core to move out. The moving plunger accomplishes two tasks. It closes the contacts that activate the starter motor. It also shifts the pinion gear, which engages the flywheel.As we can see, a starter relay is nothing more than a switch. The starter solenoid, on the other hand, acts as an actuator by closing a circuit and moving gear. The starter relay is typically located a long distance away from the starter motor, whereas the majority of starter solenoids are attached to the motor housing.3.3 3 Differences Between Starter Solenoid Switch & Starter Relaya starter solenoid switch and a starter relay, which are vastly different in terms of construction, operation, and functionality.They share some characteristics, such as the use of coil winding and electromagnetism in their operation. However, there are numerous differences between a starter solenoid switch and a starter relay.Difference In ConstructionRelayStarter relay structureA starter relay is made up of a wire coil wound around a ferrous core and an armature attached to one end of the coil. The amateur is linked to a switch with two contacts made of the highly conducting material. A spring is located on the side. The spring regulates the armature and, as a result, the switch's closing and opening.Solenoid SwitchSolenoid Switch A starter solenoid, on the other hand, is a coil enclosing a movable plunger. Unlike the starter relay, which has an immovable coil core, the core of the starter solenoid is an iron or steel plunger that can move in and out of the coil. At one end, the steel plunger is connected to a spring. The coil, spring, and a portion of the plunger are all enclosed. The plunger's other end emerges from the casing to provide movement to an external connection. Difference In OperationRelayWhen the ignition circuit is activated, a small current flows from it, causing a much larger current to flow through the relay's coil. The electromagnetic force generated by the current in the coil magnetizes the core, causing it to pull the armature. When the armature is pulled, the contacts close, completing the intended circuit. As a result, the starter relay only serves as a switch.Solenoid SwitchAn electromagnetic force is created when current flows through the solenoid's coil winding. The force propels the movable steel core outward. This motion engages the pinion gear, which in turn engages the relevant gears on the flywheel.Difference In Function RelayThe starter relay acts as a switch. It relays the small current from the ignition circuit to cause a much larger current from the battery to operate the starter solenoid and motor. In this manner, the relay functions as a remote switch or as a link between the ignition key in the driver's seat and the starter system.Solenoid SwitchThe starter solenoid is responsible for connecting the starter motor to the flywheel. It accomplishes this by thrusting out the pinion and making contact with the flywheel, thereby starting the engine.As can be seen, a starter relay does not cause any mechanical movements. The only moving parts are the switch contacts as they close. It could be described as merely a switch in the overall ignition process.A starter solenoid generates mechanical movements that activate the starter motor and flywheel. It makes no difference. It only serves to connect the motor's moving parts and the engine flywheel.Ⅳ FAQs1. What can a Starter Relay have in various contact forms?Unlimited number of contacts.2. Can you use a starter solenoid as a relay?To operate the starting system in some automotive applications, the starter relay collaborates with the starter solenoid. In others, the ignition switch directly controls the starter solenoid circuit.3. Will a bad starter solenoid still click?You should hear a clicking sound when the starter motor solenoid engages. If you hear a clicking sound but the starter motor is not turning on, the solenoid may be engaged but not receive enough battery power. If there is no sound, the starter solenoid is most likely faulty, or you may have a dead car battery.4. What is the function of starter relay?A starter relay acts as an electrical circuit completer or circuit breaker between the vehicle's battery and the starter motor. It aids in increasing the current of the battery so that less current is required during ignition.5. Can a relay click and still be bad?If you hear or feel the relay click, the problem isn't with the relay or its wiring. If it doesn't click, the problem could be with the relay or the wiring. Unless the relay contains a diode, switching the polarity has no effect; the electromagnet will be energized regardless.6. How do I know if my starter fuse is blown?Your starter motor is on all the time. An illuminated ABS Light is one of the first signs of a blown fuse or relay. When you turn your car, a faulty relay frequently produces an audible clicking sound. A car that suddenly stalls while driving is one of the most common symptoms of a failed ignition relay.7. How to Bypass the Starter Solenoid？If you try to start your vehicle and all you hear is a clicking sound, the problem could be with the starter motor or solenoid. The clicking noise is caused by the starter solenoid attempting to force the starter gear to engage the engine. However, the solenoid may be too weak to force the gear into engagement, or the bearings within the starter motor may be frozen. You can bypass the starter solenoid to determine which component is faulty.8. How to tell if starter relay is bad？The vehicle is deadStarter making clicking soundsOccasional failures in starting the vehicleStarter does not get Switched off.

CatalogIntroductionⅠ How to Wire a Relay?Ⅱ Why Use a Relay?Ⅲ Relay Wiring DiagramⅣ 4 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram vs 5 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram4.1 The Main Difference between 4 or 5 Pin Relays4.2 4 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram4.3 Sample Wiring Diagrams for a 4 Pin Normally Open Relay4.4 Why to Use a 4 Pin Relay for Driving Lights4.5 5 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram4.6 How To Use 5 Pin Relay4.7 5 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram for lightsⅤ FAQIntroductionIn layman's terms, a relay is an electromagnetic switch that is typically used to switch the power supply either automatically or manually. In this post, I'll go over the fundamentals of 4 and 5 pin relay wiring diagrams. The relay comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It can be based on the pins or contacts, ampers, or voltage ratting (AC or DC). These contacts are pins 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, and so on. However, we have two coil pins on each pin. Where we supply the necessary ratting current. As an example, suppose we have a 12-volt DCV relay. As a result, we will supply 12 volts of DC (Direct current) to the relay coil. And if we have the 220 ACV, we can supply the relay coil with 220 volts AC (alternating current).The remaining pins and contacts are known as main contacts or switching contacts. The relay switching pins include the following: common, NC (normally open), and NO (normally close).Ⅰ How to Wire a Relay?How To Wire A Relay - Quick TipStill confused? See the full video here. Ⅱ Why Use a Relay?There are several reasons why you might need or want to use a relay:Using a lower current circuit to replace a high current circuit.This is the most common reason, and it is useful when an in-line switch or existing circuit cannot handle the required current. For example, if you wanted to install some high-powered work lights that activate with the headlights, there's a chance they'd exceed the capacity of the existing loom.Cost SavingBecause high current capacity wiring and switches are more expensive than lower current capacity versions, using relays reduces the need for more expensive components.Activating more than one circuit from a Single InputA single input signal from one part of an electrical system (e.g., central locking output, manual switch, etc.) can be used to activate one or more relays, which then complete one or more other circuits, allowing you to carry out multiple functions from a single input signal.Carrying Out Logic FunctionsWhen linked together, electromagnetic relays can be used to perform logical operations based on specific inputs (for example, latching a +12V output on and off from a momentary input, flashing alternative left and right lights, and so on). Although electronic modules have largely replaced these logical functions in OEM designs, it can still be useful, fun, and often more cost-effective to use relays to perform them in some after-market projects (particularly where you have a bespoke application).Ⅲ Relay Wiring DiagramA simple wiring diagram of a relay is shown here to help you understand how it works in a circuit.Relay wiring diagramLet's talk about this relay wiring diagram now.It is the relay that is powered by the DC supply. Pin 1 is the magnetic coil's positive pin. Pin 2 is the coil's negative pin. As a result, we used an SPST switch to connect a DC power source across terminals 1 and 2. We can use this switch to turn on or off the power supply to the relay coil whenever we want.Terminal 3 is shared by NO and NC contacts. Terminal 5 is designated as NO, while Terminal 4 is designated as NC. This means that under normal circumstances, terminal 3 is connected to terminal 4. When we apply power to the coil, terminal 3 is connected to terminal 5.As you can see, we connected two LEDs here. The NO terminal is connected to the red LED, and the NC terminal is connected to the green LED. So, under normal circumstances, the green LED will glow, but when we apply power to the relay by turning on the switch, the red LED will glow.Ⅳ 4 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram vs 5 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram4.1 The Main Difference between 4 or 5 Pin RelaysA 4 pin relay controls a single circuit, whereas a 5 pin relay switches power between two circuits.4 Pin Relay2 pins (85 & 86) control the coil and 2 pins (30 & 87) switch power on a single circuit in a 4 pin relay. Four-pin relays are available in two configurations: normally open and normally closed. When the coil is activated, a normally open relay turns on the power to a circuit. When the coil is activated, a normally closed relay turns off the power to the circuit.5 Pin Relay5 pin relays have two pins (85 & 86) for controlling the coil and three pins (30, 87 & 87A) for switching power between two circuits. They have connection pins that are both normally open and normally closed. Power is switched from the normally closed pin to the normally open pin when the coil is activated.4.2 4 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram The diagram of a four-pin relay is depicted in the image below. This circuit diagram will be used later to wire a relay for driving lights.4 Pin Relay Wiring DiagramYou'll need to use a fuse to connect the relay's Pin 30 to the 12V battery for driving lights. We're not directly connecting pin 30 to the battery here; instead, we're using a fuse. This is because the fuse protects us from overcurrents.If there is a fault in the driving light circuit, the fuse protects the burning of lights and other circuits from current overshoots.Pin 85 of the relay is grounded, while Pins 87 and 86 are switching pins. You can turn on the main beams of the driving light using this 4 pin relay by switching the battery connections to either circuit connected with pin 86 or 87 of the relay.4.3 Sample Wiring Diagrams for a 4 Pin Normally Open Relay Sample Wiring Diagrams for a Normally Open RelayExample 1. 4 pin (normally open) relay with the switch on the control circuit's positive side.  Example 2. 4 pin (normally open) relay with the switch on the control circuit's negative side.   Note: These circuits have been simplified to demonstrate the function of a relay and thus do not include the fuse protection that would be required. Relay coil terminals have no polarity unless the relay coil is protected by a diode (inside the relay), in which case the coil terminal wired to the diode's anode must be connected to negative.4.4 Why to Use a 4 Pin Relay for Driving LightsThe main reason for installing this relay system is to keep dangerous voltages outside of your cabin or driving area.The high voltage required by your headlight, which is supplied by the battery, is kept inside the engine compartment by a relay.Simply put, a relay is a switch that is controlled by another switch. The switch installed in the vehicle's sitting cabin, on the front side of the driver, operates on very low voltage. As you can see, this voltage is not high enough to harm the driver or other electronic components. This switch provides power to the relay, which is essentially an electromagnet. It will also control the high current circuit that is directly connected to the headlights.This is how a low current circuit controls a high current circuit, keeping both the driver and the car electronics safe, and why we need a relay in our headlights!4.5 5 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram A pin relay is SPDT relay, which means that the contacts of relay single pole double throw. In single pole double throw relay, we have one pin is common, 2nd are normally close and 3rd are normally open. Two pins for the coil. This relay can be used for different types of controlling or switching. Such as for lights, fan, fuel pump, etc. Here I showed the 5 pin relay wiring diagram. 5 pin relay wiring diagramIn the diagram above, I've depicted a single pole double throw relay (5 pin relay). Not that his relay can be 5 volts DCV, 12 volts DCV, 24 volts DCV, and so on, depending on the coil's ratting voltage. In the above 5 pin relay diagram, pins 1 and 2 are for the coil, pin 3 is the common pin, pin 4 is normally closed, and pin 5 is normally open.4.6 How to Use 5 Pin RelayA relay can be used for a variety of switching purposes. If you want to control electrical devices automatically, a relay is the best option. When we talk about relays, as I previously stated, there are various types of relays for various applications. This post, however, is about the 5 pin relay. As illustrated by the 5 pin relay diagram. This has three main pins. As opposed to a single pole double throw.So when we say single pole double throw, we mean that it has a common point as well as two other points (NC and NO).To switch something from a single pole double throw relay, you must use the common and other points. For example, if you require that the light bulb be turned off when the relay operates. Then you must use a common, normally closed pin. If you want to turn on the light bulb, you must use the common and normally open pins. I've shown how to wire a 5 pin relay for lights in this article.4.7 5 Pin Relay Wiring Diagram for lightsIn the 5 pin relay wiring diagram below, I show how to turn on lights when the relay is activated and how to turn them off when the relay is deactivated.Similarly, if you want to control or wire a fan with a relay, you can use the same method. It is important to note that the ratted voltage must be applied to the relay coil. If your relay is powered by 12 volts DCV. Then you must supply the 12-volt DCV.Ⅴ FAQ1. What costs more than lower current capacity versions?High current capacity wiring and switches.2. What can you use to activate one or more relays?A single input from one part of an electrical system.3. How can you use a single input from one part of an electrical system?To activate one or more relays that then complete one or more other circuits and so carry out multiple functions from one input signal.4. What will switch power on for a circuit when the coil is activated?A normally open relay.5. What is the main purpose of installing a 4 Pin Relay for Driving Lights?To keep dangerous voltages outside of your cabin or driving place.   

Introduction Everyone has heard of FPGA more or less, such as Bitcoin mining, or Microsoft said before that it will use FPGA instead of CPU in the data center. So what exactly is it? Why use it? Compared with CPU, GPU, and ASIC, what are the characteristics of FPGA? FPGA is a chip that can reconfigure circuits and is a hardware reconfigurable architecture. Through programming, users can change its application scenarios at any time, and it can simulate various parallel operations of hardware such as CPU and GPU. By interconnecting with the high-speed interface of the target hardware, the FPGA can complete the low-efficiency part of the target hardware, thereby achieving acceleration at the system level. What Is an FPGA? Catalog Introduction Ⅰ FPGA vs CPU vs GPU vs ASIC Ⅱ Five Advantages of FPGA 2.1 Performance 2.2 Time-to-Market 2.3 Cost 2.4 Stability 2.5 Long-Term Maintenance Ⅲ New Applications of FPGA Ⅳ Development Trend of FPGA Ⅴ FAQ Ⅰ FPGA vs CPU vs GPU vs ASIC The core difference between FPGA and CPU, GPU, ASIC chips, etc. is that the connection and logic layout of the underlying operation unit are not solidified. Users can program the logic unit and switch array through EDA software to configure the function, so as to realize the integration of specific functions.FPGA appears as a semi-custom circuit in the field of application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), which not only solves the shortcomings of custom circuits, but also improves the limited number of original programmable device gate circuits. Compared with ASIC chips, an important feature of FPGA is its programmable characteristics, that is, the user can specify the FPGA to realize a specific digital circuit through the program. Furthermore, FPGA chips are one of the best choices for small batch systems to improve system integration and reliability. Figure 1. FPGA Basic Structure So why is FPGA so fast? This is all because the computer's CPU(central processing unit) and GPU(graphics processing unit) belong to the von Neumann structure, with instruction decoding and execution, and shared memory. FPGAs, on the other hand, are instruction-free and memory-free architectures that make FPGA chips much more energy-efficient than CPUs or even GPUs. Figure 2. Von Neumann Structure In the von Neumann architecture, since the execution unit (such as the CPU core) may execute any instruction, so an instruction memory, a decoder, an operator of various instructions, and branch and jump processing logic are required. Due to the complex control logic of the instruction stream, it is impossible to have too many independent instruction streams. Therefore, the GPU uses SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) to allow multiple execution units to process different data at the same pace, and the CPU also supports SIMD instruction. The function of each logic unit of the FPGA has been determined during reprogramming, and no instructions are required. Figure 3. Computer CPU If the GPU is used for acceleration, in order to fully utilize the GPU computing, the batch size cannot be too small, and the delay will be on the order of milliseconds. Using FPGA to accelerate, only microsecond-level PCle delay is required. Why is FPGA so much lower latency than GPU? This is basically an architectural difference. FPGAs have both pipeline parallelism and data parallelism, while GPUs have almost only data parallelism (with limited pipeline depth).For example, FPGA chips can change the running hardware design on the chip every few seconds, while chips such as CPU and ASIC are already solidified when they leave the factory and cannot be changed. If ASIC, CPU, GPU, etc. are built buildings, and the routes of rooms, corridors, and stairs in the building have been fixed, while the interior of FPGA is similar to the magic staircase in Hogwarts, which can change the route of room to room at any time. In addition, FPGA does not need to compile the instruction system at the software application level like CPU and GPU. To program FPGA, use hardware description language, and directly compile and burn it into a combination of transistor circuits, that is, directly use transistor circuits to implement user algorithms.The biggest feature of FPGA is its flexibility. It can realize any digital circuit you want and can customize various circuits. Reduce the shackles of special chips, truly tailor-made for your own products, you can flexibly change the design during the design process, and have field programmability, so it is especially suitable for applications that require continuous changes in physical operation logic, such as AI algorithm optimization, data center applications, etc. Architecture Throughput（int ops） Delay Flexibility CPU ~1T N/A Very High GPU ~10T ~1ms High FPGA(Stratix V) ~1T ~1us High FPGA(Stratix 10) ~10T ~1us High ASIC ~10T ~1us Low The FPGA is set up by the RAM stored on the chip to reset its working state, so the on-chip RAM needs to be programmed when working. Users can use different programming methods according to different configuration modes, which can be said to be very flexible and convenient. The FPGA has the following configuration modes:🔺Parallel Mode: Parallel PROM, Flash configures FPGA.🔺Master-Slave Mode: One PROM configures multiple FPGAs.🔺Serial Mode: Serial PROM configures FPGA.🔺Peripheral Mode: The FPGA is used as a peripheral of the microprocessor and programmed by the microprocessor. Computational performance compared with CPU: For example, Stratix series FPGAs perform integer multiplication operations, and their performance is equivalent to that of a 20-core CPU, and for floating-point multiplication operations, their performance is equivalent to an 8-core CPU.Computational performance compared with GPU: FPGA performs integer multiplication and floating-point multiplication operations. There is an order of magnitude difference in performance compared to GPU. The computing performance of GPU can be approached by configuring multipliers and floating-point operation components. Figure 4. CPU and GPU Architecture Diagram The core advantage of FPGA for performing computation-intensive tasks: tasks such as search engine sorting and image processing have strict requirements on the return time limit of results, and it is necessary to reduce the delay of computing steps. Under the traditional GPU acceleration scheme, the data packet size is large, and the delay can reach the millisecond level. Under the FPGA acceleration scheme, the PCIe latency can be reduced to the microsecond level. Driven by long-term technology, the data transmission delay between CPU and FPGA can be reduced to less than 100 nanoseconds.The FPGA can build the same number of pipelines (pipeline parallel structure) for the number of data packet steps, and the data packets can be output immediately after being processed by multiple pipelines. The GPU data parallel mode relies on different data units to process different data packets, and the data units need to be input and output consistently. For stream computing tasks, the FPGA pipeline parallel structure has a natural advantage in latency. FPGA is used to process communication-intensive tasks and is not limited by network cards. It outperforms CPU solutions in terms of packet throughput and delay, and has strong delay stability. Therefore, FPGAs have obvious advantages over CPUs when performing large data processing tasks with high repetition rates.By programming the FPGA, the user can change the internal connection structure of the chip at any time to realize any logic function. Especially in industries with immature technical standards or rapid development and change, FPGA can effectively help enterprises reduce investment risks and sunk costs, and is a functional and economical choice. Figure 5. Computer GPU With the evolution of intelligent market demand, highly customized chips (ASIC SoC) have led to a sharp increase in market risks due to the large scale of non-repetitive investment and long R&D cycle. Relatively speaking, FPGA has advantages in the field of parallel computing tasks, and can replace some ASICs in the field of high performance and multi-channel. The demand for multi-channel computing tasks in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) drives the evolution of FPGA technology to the mainstream. Figure 6. ASIC SoC Ⅱ Five Advantages of FPGA 2.1 Performance Taking advantage of hardware parallelism, FPGAs break the sequential execution model and complete more processing tasks per clock cycle, surpassing the computing power of digital signal processors (DSPs). BDTI(Big Data Test Infrastructure), a well-known analysis and benchmarking company, has published benchmarks that show that in some applications, FPGAs can handle many times more processing power per dollar than DSP solutions. Controlling input and output (I/O) at the hardware level provides faster response times and specialized functionality to meet application needs. 2.2 Time-to-Market Despite increasing time-to-market constraints, FPGA technology offers flexibility and the ability to rapidly prototype. Users can test an idea or concept and complete verification in hardware without going through the lengthy manufacturing process of custom ASIC design. This allows users to make incremental modifications and iterate FPGA designs in hours, saving weeks. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware provides different types of I/O connected to user-programmable FPGA chips. The increasing popularity of high-level software tools reduces the learning curve and abstraction layers, and often provides useful IP cores (pre-built functions) for advanced control and signal processing. 2.3 Cost The non-recurring engineering (NRE) cost of custom ASIC design far exceeds the cost of FPGA-based hardware solutions. The huge initial investment in ASIC design shows that OEMs need to ship thousands of chips each year, but more end users need custom hardware capabilities that enable the development of tens to hundreds of systems. The nature of programmable chips means that users can save on manufacturing costs as well as long lead times for assembly. System requirements change from time to time, but the cost of changing the FPGA design is negligible compared to ASCI's huge expense. 2.4 Stability Software tools provide the programming environment, and FPGA circuits are the real "hard" implementation of programming. Processor-based systems often contain multiple layers of abstraction that can schedule tasks and share resources among multiple processes. The driver layer controls hardware resources, while the operating system manages memory and processor bandwidth. For any given processor core, only one instruction can be executed at a time, and processor-based systems face the risk of tightly time-bound tasks taking over each other at all times. FPGAs, on the other hand, do not use an operating system, and have true parallel execution and deterministic hardware that focuses on each task, reducing the chance of stability issues. 2.5 Long-Term Maintenance As mentioned above, FPGA chips are field-upgradable without the time and expense involved in redesigning ASICs. For example, digital communication protocols contain specifications that can change over time, and ASIC-based interfaces can create maintenance and forward compatibility difficulties. Reconfigurable FPGA chips can accommodate future modifications. As a product or system matures, users can enhance functionality without spending time redesigning hardware or modifying board layouts.   Ⅲ New Applications of FPGA At present, the FPGAs mainly produced by Xilinx and Altera with the highest market share, which are all based on SRAM technology, and need to be connected to an external memory to save the program when in use. When powered on, the FPGA reads the data in the external memory into the on-chip RAM, and after completing the configuration, it enters the working state. When power off, the FPGA returns to a white chip, and the internal logic disappears. In this way, the FPGA can not only be used repeatedly, but also does not require a special programmer, but only a general EPROM and PROM programmer. So Actel, QuickLogic and other companies also provide FPGAs with anti-fuse technology, which can only be downloaded once. They have the advantages of anti-radiation, high & low temperature resistance, low power consumption and fast speed. They are widely used in military and aerospace fields. FPGA cannot be erased and written repeatedly, which is troublesome and expensive in the early stage of development. Lattice is the inventor of ISP technology, which has certain characteristics in small-scale PLD applications. Early Xilinx products generally did not involve military and aerospace markets, but now a number of products such as Q Pro-R have entered such fields.In the industrial field, FPGA chips are widely used in the industrial field, and are widely used in video processing, image processing, CNC machine tools and other fields to realize signal control and operation acceleration functions. With the development of intelligence and automation technology, the industrial field is gradually shifting from human resources as the core element to intelligent unmanned factories with automation as the core element.Smart electric vehicles will be the mainstream development direction of the automotive industry in the future. At present, the application of FPGA in automotive cameras and sensors is relatively mature. In the artificial intelligence system of automatic/intelligent driving vehicles, the applicability of FPGA will be the most suitable for processing sophisticated ADAS and autonomous driving. Figure 7. FPGA for Auto In the field of automotive electronic system interface and control, FPGA chips are used to control and drive electric vehicle motor control systems, connect various in-vehicle equipment such as driving systems, instrument panels, radar, ultrasonic sensors, etc. control. In the field of video bridging and fusion, FPGA chips can be used to realize functions such as signal bridging of multiple image sensors, 3D surround view video fusion, reversing auxiliary video, and assisted driving video.In the field of communication, the number of 5G base stations has increased, and the FPGA usage of a single base station has increased, driving the increase in FPGA demand. According to estimates, the FPGA consumption of a 5G single base station is expected to increase from 1-3 blocks in the 4G period to 4-5 blocks in the 5G period. Figure 8. RFSoC FPGA Board Target 5G eFPGA technology is superior to traditional FPGA solutions in terms of performance, cost, power consumption, profitability, etc., and can provide flexible solutions for different application scenarios and different market segments. The economic trend of increasing design complexity and falling equipment costs has stimulated the market demand for eFPGA technology.   Ⅳ Development Trend of FPGA First of all, with the commercialization of the new generation of communication technology, the demand for products such as communication base stations, servers, and intelligent terminals will further expand, thereby driving the increase in the market demand for FPGA chips. At the same time, smart cities, smart factories, and consumer electronics pay more attention to the functionality of various smart IoT devices, which will drive the wide application of FPGA chips in smart IoT devices. With the development of the Internet of Vehicles technology, the scale of the use of FPGA chips in the automotive industry will increase day by day to build a more complete Internet of Vehicles and realize smarter autonomous driving functions. Therefore, with the rapid penetration of 5G, the vigorous development of AI and the increasing trend of automotive intelligence, it is expected that the demand for FPGAs in the three fields of communication, AI and automotive electronics will continue to increase in the future, which will also promote The FPGA industry continues to grow.   Ⅴ FAQ 1. What is FPGA and why it is used?The acronym FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array. It is an integrated circuit that can be programmed by a user for a specific use after it has been manufactured. ... These blocks create a physical array of logic gates that can be customized to perform specific computing tasks. 2. Is FPGA faster than GPU?The difference between GPU and FPGA performance is not a static factor, but it does depend on the size of the data set. A study by Sanaullah and Herbordt [7] revealed that FPGA can compute small samples of 3D FFT tens of times faster than GPU. The difference is less clear when the data set gets bigger. 3. Is FPGA faster than CPU?A FPGA can hit the data cell faster and more often than a CPU can do it meaning the FPGA causes more results to occur during an attack. It all goes faster when an FPGA is used. And as a side benefit, no trace of all this is left on the CPU because it's never touched when an FPGA is used. 4. Are FPGAs efficient?Efficiency and Power: FPGAs are well-known for their power efficiency. A research project done by Microsoft on an image classification project showed that Arria 10 FPGA performs almost 10 times better in power consumption. 5. Is FPGA programming hard?FPGA vendors have touted their wares as ideal replacements for DSPs, CPUs, and GPUs – even for all of them in a single device – but they are notoriously difficult for software engineers to program as they are not anything like a conventional processor. 6. What can you do with FPGAs?Uses for FPGAs cover a wide range of areas—from equipment for video and imaging, to circuitry for computer, auto, aerospace, and military applications, in addition to electronics for specialized processing and more. 7. What is the difference between processor and FPGA?Microprocessor vs FPGA: A microprocessor is a simplified CPU or Central Processing Unit. ... An FPGA doesn't have any hardwired logic blocks because that would defeat the field programmable aspect of it. An FPGA is laid out like a net with each junction containing a switch that the user can make or break. 8. What language is used to program FPGA?VerilogTraditionally, FPGAs are programmed using pro-level hardware-description languages such as Verilog or VHDL. 9. How many times can you program an FPGA?There is effectively no limit to the number of times a device can be reconfigured; the configuration is stored in SRAM, which has no write limit. most Fpgas can be passively loaded from a processor, one word at a time. That processor can get the FPGA image from anywhere. 10. What are the advantages of FPGA?FPGA advantagesLong-term availabilityUpdating and adaptation at the customerVery short time-to-marketFast and efficient systemsAcceleration of softwareReal-time applicationsMassively parallel data processing 11. How do you make an FPGA?FPGA design checklistMake sure you have plenty of time to spare.Find a decent computer.If you can afford it, add a big display.Decide which operating system to use.Consider using a virtual machine (VM).Select an FPGA vendor.Pick out a suitable development board.Select an embedded processor to use. 12. What is FPGA for beginners?FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array. As you may already know, FPGA essentially is a huge array of gates that can be programmed and reconfigured any time anywhere. Huge array of gates is an oversimplified description of FPGA. FPGA is indeed much more complex than a simple array of gates. 13. What is FPGA in Verilog?FPGAs are nothing, but reconfigurable logic blocks and interconnects can be programmed by Hardware Description Language like Verilog/ VHDL to perform a specific functionality. 14. Do we need to program the FPGA once powered off?If you have a SRAM-based FPGA, like the Spartan 3, then you have to program it each time it is powered up. The reason for this is that the SRAM which stores the configuration is volatile and loses the programmed configuration after power is switched off. 15. How is FPGA different from microcontroller?One of the main differences between a microcontroller and an FPGA is that an FPGA doesn't have a fixed hardware structure, while a microcontroller does. While FPGAs include fixed logic cells, these, along with the interconnects, can be programmed in parallel by using HDL coding language.