Field-Programmable Analog Arrays Enable Analog Signal Processing Education

In a laboratory environment, the practicality and scope of experiments is often constrained by time and financial resources. In the digital hardware design arena, the development of programmable logic devices, such as field--programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), has greatly enhanced the student’s ability to design and synthesize complete systems within a short period of time and at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately, analog circuit design and signal processing have not enjoyed similar advances. However, new advances in field--programmable analog arrays (FPAAs) have created many new opportunities in analog circuit design and signal processing education. This paper will investigate the usefulness of these FPAAs as viable pedagogical tools. It will also explore the new methodologies in analog signal processing education that are available when FPAAs are brought into the classroom.