Talk:Programmable logic device

The first PLDs
I reverted 's edits because they are possibly wrong and his other edits are POVed and possibly sneaky vandalism. The one source I found said that MMI had the first not IBM. However, I don't know enough of the topic to make clear call either way. -- metta, The Sunborn  19:32, 21 May 2005 (UTC)


 * First: IBM but not for sale to the public, Second: Signetics FPLA's, Third: MMI PAL's(tm)


 * MMI PAL patent, enjoy:


 * User:63.201.25.147


 * User:63.201.25.147, you were probably joking but you might want to be a bit gentler with fellow Wikipedians. I've edited-out what could be (probably incorrectly) construed as a personal attack.


 * Atlant 01:01, 8 Jun 2005 (UTC)

PLD and PAL history
I will be adding a few items to this article from my book.

I release these contributions to Wikipedia to the public domain.

I worked at Data I/O Corp on programmable logic from 1981 to 1997. I was fortunate to meet and work with the most of the pioneers in this field. I was on the development team for the ABEL programming language.

Feel free to correct my grammar and spelling.

Michael Holley SWTPC6800 02:50, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

PLA / Programmable Logic Array
The article Programmable logic array reads synonymously to this article. Does it make sense to merge both articles? If not, I'd be great if someone could differentiate both article from eath other by writing some words. --Abdull 10:54, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

The Programmable Logic Array (PLA) is a design methodology that can be used in any type of device. They are popular in custom ICs and are configured with the metal layers.

A Programmable Logic Device (PLD) can be configured in the field after it is manufactured. Originally this was with fusible links or EPROM technology. They can also be configured by RAM. Signetics sold a PLA (82S100) that was a PLD. SWTPC6800 01:15, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

External link
Hello, I'm working for the So-logic company, located in Vienna, Austria, www.so-logic.net. We have developed the FPGA Database application, www.so-logic.net/en/fpga/table/producers. It is the directory of all FPGA families that have ever existed on the market. It is free of charge and available to everyone. We would like to add the link to our database in the Wikipedia external links on this page. We didn't want to do it before discussing it with you. Thank you for your time. --Maja Gordic (talk) 14:59, 6 April 2010 (UTC)
 * I don't think the link should be added. It is not our practice to add links to vendor sites or lists of vendors. See WP:EL for more details on what should and should not be linked. - MrOllie (talk) 15:08, 6 April 2010 (UTC)

ROMs
Theoretically, there are 2^m possible Boolean functions of these m signals, but the structure of the ROM allows just 2^n of these functions to be produced at the output pins.

Huh? This doesn't make sense to me. 2^n? Seems to me that each of the outputs can produce any of the 2^m possible functions. 151.200.47.86 (talk) 03:47, 30 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Yes, that version of this article was confusing. User:SMM SCL fixed it up and now it makes much more sense to me. --DavidCary (talk) 17:41, 4 July 2011 (UTC)

Theoretically, there are 2^2^m possible Boolean functions of these m signals --- Without allowing the m inputs to run over 2^m time cycles, and having a place to store a 0 or 1 for each of the 2^m cycles, I cannot see how there can be 2^2^m possible Boolean functions of the m signals. Rather, there are 2^m possible functions - right? Daniel347x (talk) 12:35, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

- I've looked through the page history, and found that the 2^m value was in place for the duration of the above talk items; it was only changed to 2^2^m on May 30, 2012 (without comment). I have reverted it back to 2^m. Daniel347x (talk) 12:48, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

- Upon more careful consideration, the 2^2^m *is* correct. The text, however, could do better in explaining this, so that it is readily understandable. I have edited the text to explain why 2^2^m should be used. ^^^^ — Preceding unsigned comment added by Daniel347x (talk • contribs) 13:07, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

another type of PLD
I hear that inside the 6502, 'The "Decode ROM" is named as a ROM in Hanson's block diagram, although it has wordline inputs and no address decoder. It is sometimes described as a PLA although it also lacks an AND plane. It is a structured layout of NOR gates with many common inputs'.

It's not exactly a PLA or PAL or a ROM or a CPLD or a FPGA -- is there a specific name for this kind of "single matrix of NOR gates" layout? --DavidCary (talk) 17:41, 4 July 2011 (UTC)

FPOA / Field-programmable object array
Hello. Is the FPOA = Field-programmable object array (by mathstar http://www.fpgacentral.com/pld-types/fpoa-field-programmable-object-array ) new type of PLD or it is just marketing name of some existing technique? `a5b (talk) 16:28, 17 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Basically it seems they are taking the basic idea of a FPGA but rather than small flexible logic units they are using much bigger objects. This will presumablly offer improved performance at the tasks the device is designed for but reduce flexibility. Plugwash (talk) 12:50, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Proposed merge with Simple programmable logic device
Simple programmable logic device is currently a stub; as all info that could be provided there is already in the main article on PLD's there is no rationale to expand this at SPLD. K7L (talk) 20:44, 17 September 2013 (UTC)
 * I decided against the merger based on the amount of info the article now has. I was bold and removed the merge request.Calaka (talk) 07:14, 2 November 2015 (UTC)

Programmable Logic Sequencers?
Should PLS/FPLS integrated circuits be included under one of the existing sections (i.e. as a synonym or a varient), or should they be given their own section?

- Jim Grisham (talk) 00:52, 25 February 2024 (UTC)