Non-field-programmable - what were called ULAs (Uncommited Logic Array - tellingly, wikipedia redirects to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_array https://en.w

Non-field-programmable - what were called ULAs (Uncommited Logic Array - tellingly, wikipedia redirects to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_array https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_array ). These are chips with a large grid of gates, which they have in common with FPGAs, PLDs, PALs and the like, but you program them by changing the final metalisation layer during manufacture rather than by feeding a bit-stream into them at initialisation. They were cheaper and faster to make than truly custom chips. A stock of etched and doped silicon wafers could be held by the manufacturer, so they only needed one mask for the final metal layer to be produced for each customer. This also meant that the turnaround from order of a new design to delivery was faster, as only that single mask needed to be prepared.