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