Chameleon chip (civil)

Chameleon Systems Inc, San Jose, California is one of the new breed of reconfigurable processor makers who claim that Chameleon chip which is its first Reconfigurable Communications Processor (RCP) is a reconfigurable processor which provides a design environment that allows customer to convert their algorithms to hardware configuration on the fly.

Advantages

1. Early and fast designs
2. Enabling Field upgrades
3. Creating product differentiation for suppliers
4. Creating flexible & adaptive products
5. Reducing power
6. Reducing manufacturing costs
7. Increasing bandwidths

Disadvantages

1. Inertia – Engineers slow to change
2. RCP designs requires comprehensive set of tools
3. 'Learning curve' for designers unfamiliar with reconfigurable logic

Applications

1. Wireless Base stations
2. Packetized voice(VOIP)
3. Digital Subscriber Line(DSL)
4. Software Defined Radio(SDR)