A programmable logic array (PLA) is a kind of programmable logic device used to implement combinational logic circuits. The PLA has a set of programmable AND gate planes, which link to a set of programmable OR gate planes, which can then be conditionally complemented to produce an output. It has 2N AND gates for N input variables, and for M outputs from PLA, there should be M OR gates, each with programmable inputs from all of the AND gates. This layout allows for many logic functions to be synthesized in the sum of products canonical forms.
PLAs differ from programmable array logic devices (PALs and GALs) in that both the AND and OR gate planes are programmable.[PAL has programmable AND gates but fixed OR gates]
In 1970, Texas Instruments developed a mask-programmable IC based on the IBM read-only associative memory or ROAM. This device, the TMS2000, was programmed by altering the metal layer during the production of the IC. The TMS2000 had up to 17 inputs and 18 outputs with 8 JK flip-flops for memory. TI coined the term Programmable Logic Array for this device.
Preparation in SOP (sum of products) form.
Obtain the minimum SOP form to reduce the number of product terms to a minimum.
Decide the input connection of the AND matrix for generating the required product term.
Then decide the input connections of OR matrix to generate the sum terms.
Decide the connections of invert matrix.
Program the PLA.
PLA block diagram:
The desired outputs for each combination of inputs could be programmed into a read-only memory, with the inputs being driven by the address bus and the outputs being read out as data. However, that would require a separate memory location for every possible combination of inputs, including combinations that are never supposed to occur, and also duplicating data for "don't care" conditions (for example, logic like "if input A is 1, then, as far as output X is concerned, we don't care what input B is": in a ROM this would have to be written out twice, once for each possible value of B, and as more "don't care" inputs are added, the duplication grows exponentially); therefore, a programmable logic array can often implement a piece of logic using fewer transistors than the equivalent in read-only memory.