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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Programmable logic devices. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:10151183

Erasable programmable logic devices (EPLDs) were investigated to determine their advantages and/or disadvantages in Test Equipment Engineering applications. It was found that EPLDs performed as well as or better than identical circuits using standard TTL logic. The chip count in these circuits was reduced, saving printed circuit board space and shortening fabrication and prove-in time. Troubleshooting circuits of EPLDs was also easier with 10 to 100 times fewer wires needed. The reduced number of integrated circuits (ICs) contributed to faster system speeds and an overall lower power consumption. In some cases changes to the circuit became software changes using EPLDs instead of hardware changes for standard logic. Using EPLDs was fairly easy; however, as with any new technology, a learning curve must be overcome before EPLDs can be used efficiently. The many benefits of EPLDs outweighed this initial inconvenience.

Research Organization:
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co., Kansas City, MO (United States). Kansas City Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00613
OSTI ID:
10151183
Report Number(s):
KCP--613-5042; ON: DE93013117
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English