Using FPGAs in Mobile Heterogeneous Computing Architectures

Abdullah Raouf, Lattice Semiconductor
EETimes (1/13/2017 05:40 PM EST)

Since "context-aware" systems must be "always on" to track changes in the environment, these capabilities represent a potentially significant drain on system power.

Today's mobile systems are more intelligent than ever. As users demand more functionality, designers are continually adding to a growing list of embedded sensors. Image sensors support functions such as gesture and facial recognition, eye tracking, proximity, depth, and movement perception. Health sensors monitor the user's EKG, EEG, EMG, and temperature. Audio sensors add voice recognition, phrase detection, and location-sensing services.

Many of these same devices now offer "context-aware" subsystems that allow the system to initiate highly advanced, task-enhancing decisions without prompting the user. For example, temperature, chemical, infrared, and pressure sensors can evaluate safety risks and track a user's health in dangerous environments. Precision image sensors and ambient light sensors can boost image resolution and display readability automatically as environmental conditions change.

To read the full article, click here