In this chapter we introduced the techniques used to design prototype intelligent sensor, starting with an overview of FPGA design, working through the VHDL language and showing how FPGA design can be simplified using graphical design entry tools. Given this background the discussion now moves on to consider the overall design of our prototype intelligent sensor by focusing on how data flows through the design; the implementation details are left to the appendices.

Inspec keywords: computer graphic equipment; field programmable gate arrays; hardware description languages; intelligent sensors; logic design

Other keywords: field programmable gate arrays; digital design method; VHDL; data flow; FPGA design; intelligent sensor design; graphical design entry tool; very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language

Subjects: Sensing and detecting devices