The aim of this workshop is to bring together workers from throughout the world for a wide ranging discussion of all forms of field programmable logic, particularly field programmable gate arrays and complex programmable logic devices, and their applications. It is intended to discuss the increasing range of device types, industrial applications, advanced design tool development, research applications, novel system architectures and educational experiences. The workshop will include regular presentations, posters and discussion sessions, and it is expected that most of the delegates will wish to make some contribution to one or more of these. The workshop is the seventh in a series of workshops which were held in Oxford (1991, 1993 and 1995), Vienna (1992), Prague (1994) and Darmstadt (1996).
Field Programmable Logic has been available for a number of years, but the increasing power and variety of devices now available is extending its role from that of simply being a convenient way of implementing the system `glue logic' to an increasing ability to implement mainstream system functions. The speed with which devices can be programmed makes them ideal for prototyping and for education; the reprogrammable devices are opening up sophisticated new applications and new hardware/software trade-offs. Computer-based tools are being developed for automatic compilation of advanced designs, and routes to custom circuits are now available.
The scope of the workshop includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects: