The re-configurable ID [interface devices]

This paper describes the use of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology in the design of Interface Devices (ID's) for multiple UUT's. FPGA's have been intensively applied in the development of TPS's in CASS for the US Navy AV8B+ aircraft under contract N68335-93-G-0159/0003. Amongst their benefits are a high degree of integration and easy changes during design and support phases. After discussing the classic UUT interface approaches and the introduction of the new re-configurable ID concept, some applications, utilized in the referenced TPS development contract, are presented to show how this technique has helped to solve interface problems. The paper concludes with a brief explanation of the design methodology, and the expanding possibilities of this concept to other type of devices. The final goal is having available a catalog of components and techniques that can be easily reused in Interface Device development.