Starting from scratch is not always the most prudent way to approach a new standard implementation, especially when there is a fully compliant version of the standard waiting inside a low-priced starter kit (less than $350) accompanied by a fully functional reference design, design software and documentation. Given the continued growth in popularity of the PCI Express (PCIe) serial IO standard, and the mounting need for a low-cost endpoint solution that can hasten next-generation products to market, prudence would suggest taking a closer look at the remarkable value Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGAs can deliver to an incredibly broad range of PCI Express applications and form factors.

PCI Evolution
PCI Express is a general-purpose serial I/O technology suitable for numerous market segments, including desktop, mobile, server, storage and embedded communications. System architects and designers use the PCI Express serial link as a peripheral device interconnect, a chip-to-chip interconnect, and a bridge to other interconnects like 1394b, USB2.0, InifiniBand™ and Ethernet. It can also be used in graphics chipsets for increased graphics bandwidth. [MORE]

Introduction
One of the most common elements in today's consumer and automotive electronics is the liquid crystal display (LCD). LCD technology has produced a large array of products that meet a wide range of size, power, and image quality requirements. Recent innovation from Sharp Electronics goes one step further with the development of a two-way viewing angle LCD product.

The popularity of standard LCDs has led to a number of semiconductor solutions to drive them, ranging from ASSPs to full-custom devices. These devices are fixed-function solutions that can restrict the options of product developers who need either a flexible solution to support the needs of specific applications, or a scalable solution to support multiple, similar applications as in the case of a product line or family. In the case of two-way viewing LCD products, no standard driver solution exists, so a custom solution is required to support them. This paper discusses an innovative architecture based on FPGAs and soft-core embedded processors that supports both standard and two-way viewing LCD products.

Traditional Solutions for Driving LCDs
Traditional LCD solutions are hampered by limitations including multiple simultaneous displays, different display types, nonstandard or very high resolutions, changing requirements, extended product lifespans, and support for memory standards. [MORE]

Introduction
When new generations of products are introduced as often as every quarter, designers require a product development strategy that is flexible, fast, and low cost. A PLD-based programmable platform can provide a foundation for rapid, low-cost product innovation and evolution. This platform can help designers react in real time to customer feedback and market changes; tailor features of a basic design for different users, regions, or price points; develop differentiated features before the competition; and maintain the first-mover advantage that is so critical to market success. This "design once, make many" approach improves productivity, saves development time, and ultimately saves money.

PLD Flexibility Enables Product Differentiation
To be successful in today’s demanding markets, designers need to get their product to market before the competition. Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs) provide a low-cost, fixed platform for product design, but are costly, have long development times, and make product differentiation difficult. PLDs offer a new level of flexibility, incorporating the latest features customers demand into an existing design without costly respin cycles. See Figure 1. [MORE]