Generic Array Logic - 9.3 | 9. Programmable Logic Devices - Part C | Digital Electronics - Vol 1
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Introduction to Generic Array Logic

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're diving into Generic Array Logic or GAL. How would you summarize what makes GAL different from PAL devices?

Student 1
Student 1

I think GALs have reprogrammable AND arrays while PALs don't?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! This reprogrammability allows greater flexibility in design. Can anyone explain what an AND array is in this context?

Student 2
Student 2

Isn't it where we can configure the inputs to create different logical operations?

Teacher
Teacher

Precisely! The AND array compiles various input combinations. And what about the OR array in GAL devices?

Student 3
Student 3

The OR array in GALs is fixed, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! This combination of reprogrammable AND arrays and fixed OR arrays creates a unique architecture. Now let's summarize: GAL provides flexibility through reprogrammable ANDs, whereas PALs offer fixed configurations.

Output Logic Macrocells (OLMCs)

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's discuss output logic macrocells. Who can tell me their function in GAL devices?

Student 4
Student 4

They help configure the outputs as either combinational or registered outputs?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! OLMCs provide this flexibility. Why is it beneficial to have the option for registered outputs?

Student 1
Student 1

Because it allows for better timing control in synchronous operations?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! By providing different output modes, OLMCs enhance the versatility of designs. Can anyone think of an application where this flexibility would be crucial?

Student 2
Student 2

In digital communication systems, where timing is everything?

Teacher
Teacher

Great example! To summarize, OLMCs in GALs allow the configuration of outputs for various applications, enhancing design capabilities.

The Role of the Multiplexer

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s shift our focus to the multiplexer within GAL architecture. What role does it play?

Student 3
Student 3

It helps select which output to use based on the configuration, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Precisely! The multiplexer aids in determining the final output based on selection inputs. Can anyone explain how this impacts the design process?

Student 4
Student 4

It allows for dynamic control of outputs based on input conditions, making designs adaptable.

Teacher
Teacher

That's exactly it! This adaptability is why GALs are so popular in advanced digital designs. Remember, multiplexers are crucial for output selection in GAL.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

Generic Array Logic (GAL) is characterized by its reprogrammable AND arrays and fixed OR arrays, offering flexibility in designing output logic compared to traditional Programmable Array Logic (PAL) devices.

Standard

Generic Array Logic (GAL) introduces a more flexible architecture than Programmable Array Logic (PAL) by utilizing reprogrammable AND arrays and fixed OR arrays. This allows for multiple reprogramming capabilities through electrically erasable PROM cells, enhancing output logic configurations using output logic macrocells (OLMCs). GAL functions enable various output modes, increasing design versatility.

Detailed

Detailed Summary of Generic Array Logic

Generic Array Logic (GAL) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that differs from its counterparts, such as Programmable Array Logic (PAL) devices, in several key ways. Unlike PALs, which have fixed OR arrays, GALs feature both reprogrammable AND arrays and fixed OR arrays. The reprogrammable AND array offers designers the flexibility to modify circuit configurations as needed. This capability is achieved through the use of electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM) cells, which store the programming information.

One of the standout features of GAL devices is the inclusion of output logic macrocells (OLMCs) at the output stage, allowing configurations for either combinational outputs or registered outputs. The ability to choose between these modes adds to the practicality of GALs in circuit design. Additionally, GAL architectures often include multiplexers that manage how outputs are created, styled based on selection inputs. Each OLMC can produce registered outputs with either active high or active low characteristics, thus providing further versatility in application.

Figures illustrating the generic array logic architecture and OLMC structure highlight these capabilities, emphasizing their role in enabling complex logic functions through various configurations. Overall, GALs offer a solution that balances flexibility and efficiency in digital circuit designs.

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Introduction to Generic Array Logic

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Generic array logic (GAL) is characterized by a reprogrammable AND array, a fixed OR array and a reprogrammable output logic. It is similar to a PAL device, with the difference that the AND array is not just programmable as is the case in a PAL device but is reprogrammable.

Detailed Explanation

Generic Array Logic (GAL) is a type of programmable logic device that allows for flexible logic design. The key feature of a GAL is its reprogrammable AND array, which means that once the logic is designed, it can be altered as needed multiple times. This differs from a Programmable Array Logic (PAL) device, where the AND array can only be programmed once. The OR array in a GAL, however, remains fixed, meaning it doesn't change after the initial programming.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a GAL as a whiteboard where you can erase and rewrite your equations (the AND array), but the borders (the fixed OR array) are always the same. This allows you to adjust your logic design without needing to erase everything and start over, just like rewriting on a board allows for flexibly updating ideas.

Key Features of GAL

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This has been made possible by the use of electrically erasable PROM cells for storing the programming pattern. The other difference is in the use of reprogrammable output logic, which provides more flexibility to the designer.

Detailed Explanation

GALs utilize electrically erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) cells. This technology allows designers to store and modify logic configurations easily. The reprogrammable output logic is notable as it enables the designer to configure the outputs in multiple waysβ€”either as combinational logic (outputs based only on current inputs) or as registered outputs (where outputs are based on clocked inputs, resembling memory storage).

Examples & Analogies

Imagine having a chessboard that not only allows you to reposition your pieces but also lets you change the rules of the game. The use of PROM cells is like the flexibility of a board that can change in layout, allowing you to try different strategies (designs) without needing a new board (device) each time.

Architecture of GAL Devices

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Figures 9.23(a) and (b) respectively show the block schematic representation of a GAL device and the architecture of a typical OLMC used with GAL devices.

Detailed Explanation

The architecture of a GAL device consists of a programmable AND array, which is responsible for implementing the logic functions, and output logic macrocells (OLMCs) that provide various output configurations. The basic schematic provides a visual understanding of how the input signals are processed through the AND array and routed to the output. There are configurations available for using outputs as either registered or combinational, based on selection inputs.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a GAL architecture like a train system. The AND array acts like the train tracks, determining how trains (signals) will travel and connect at various stations (outputs). The selection inputs on the macrocells resemble switches that can change the destination of the trains, allowing different routes based on current conditions.

Output Configurations in GAL

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The OLMC of the type shown in Fig. 9.23(b) can be configured to produce four different outputs depending upon the selection inputs.

Detailed Explanation

The output logic in a GAL can produce different types of outputs based on various states of selection inputs, leading to four key configurations. These include two modes for registered outputs (active high and low) and two for combinational outputs, also distinguished by active high and low states. This versatility allows a single GAL to be used in a broad range of applications with different output requirements.

Examples & Analogies

Think of the output configurations in a GAL like the settings on a coffee machine. Depending on user preference (selection inputs), it can brew coffee in various styles: espresso, drip, or cold brewβ€”each requiring a different brewing process (output logic). Just like a coffee machine adapts to the user's choice, a GAL adjusts its output based on different configurations.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Reprogrammability: The ability of GAL devices to allow for multiple programming cycles.

  • Flexibility: The enhancement in design capabilities through OLMC configurations and multiplexers.

  • Fixed Configuration: The nature of OR arrays in GAL, which remain unchanged after design.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Example of combining AND and OR arrays to implement a specific logical function using GAL.

  • A practical scenario where OLMCs are configured for a communication system requiring both registered and combinational outputs.

Memory Aids

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🎡 Rhymes Time

  • GAL is flexible, it's quite true, programmable ANDs just for you!

πŸ“– Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a designer with a diverse toolbox filled with tools representing various logic configurations. Each time they face a new challenge, they can pick and choose which tools to use, thanks to GAL.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember GAL with 'Gains And Logic' flexibility.

🎯 Super Acronyms

G.A.L. - Generic Adaptable Logic.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: Generic Array Logic (GAL)

    Definition:

    A type of programmable logic device characterized by a reprogrammable AND array and a fixed OR array.

  • Term: Output Logic Macrocell (OLMC)

    Definition:

    A component in GAL devices that allows for the configuration of outputs as either combinational or registered outputs.

  • Term: Reprogrammable AND Array

    Definition:

    An AND array that can be programmed multiple times to accommodate different logic functions.

  • Term: Multiplexer

    Definition:

    A device that selects one of several input signals and forwards the selected input into a single line.