scope:

This Handbook outlines a life cycle as a guideline for planning, designing, verifying and maintaining programmable logic devices (PLDs). Additionally, best practices are recommended for different PLD development phases. This Handbook provides guidance to perform project activities. It covers all aspects of the design cycle from initial planning through release and maintenance. The specific types of PLDs this Handbook addresses are as follows:

• Field-programmable gate array (FPGA).
• Complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

Purpose

The purpose of this Handbook is to establish PLD design engineering guidance.

The trend toward the increased use of PLDs in aerospace systems requires increased expertise in the design, development, and verification of these systems. Hardware designers are now expected to implement PLD designs that are as complex as traditional microprocessor-based systems that were designed in some cases by large teams of engineers.

The development of successful PLDs requires a coordinated effort. This Handbook contains guidelines that provide for a consistent approach based on best practices for the development of PLDs for flight and ground support systems across NASA Centers. The advancing technology in PLDs has allowed for the implementation of more complex designs in single devices. Many of these devices designed within NASA systems perform critical operations. The guidelines in this Handbook serve to increase confidence in the quality of PLD designs.

Applicability

This Handbook provides engineering guidance applicable to programmable logic design. It serves as a primer for sound engineering design practice and can be used in its entirety, or in portions thereof, in conjunction with other available design resources.

This Handbook is approved for use by NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. This Handbook may also apply to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory or to other contractors, grant recipients, or parties to agreements only to the extent specified or referenced in their contracts, grants, or agreements.

This Handbook, or portions thereof, may be referenced in contract, program, and other Agency documents for guidance. When this Handbook contains procedural or process requirements, they may be cited in contract, program, and other Agency documents for guidance.