Embedded Processing
Spartan-6 FPGA Embedded Kit Demonstration
Xilinx processing capabilities provide performance and customization across a wide range of end markets including: aerospace and defense, wired and wireless communications, automotive, audio/video broadcast, industrial control, test and measurement, and consumer. Xilinx supports embedded processing by utilizing the industry-standard ARM® dual-core Cortex™-A9 MPCore™ processor in the Zynq™-7000 Extensible Processing Platform family of devices and the MicroBlaze™ soft processor in all Xilinx FPGA devices.
Xilinx is committed to providing embedded development tools, methodologies, IP and support through its Targeted Design Platforms. The Targeted Design Platform for embedded processing brings these elements together into solutions that accelerate development for experienced users and simplifies the adoption of FPGAs for new users. Xilinx embedded processing solutions are supported on numerous Virtex® and Spartan® FPGAs, along with pre-qualified solutions developed by Xilinx Alliance Program members.
Embedded Processing Benefits
- Integrated development solution provides time-saving tools like automatic Board Support Package (BSP) generation, IP creation, example software application generation, and integrated hardware/software debug capabilities
- Broad range of embedded processing peripheral IP cores for rapid development
- The AXI4 interconnect standard eliminates the need for multiple legacy or custom interfaces necessary to integrate IP from various sources
- Flexible solutions for either hard or soft core processors
- Mix and match design architectures such as data and control path elements to provide a cost optimized solution while meeting design goals
- Reduce equipment operating costs by leveraging the DSP processing bandwidth and embedded processing capabilities of FPGAs to implement sophisticated power management algorithms such as digital pre-distortion
- The AXI4 interconnect standard enables system designers to optimize their designs for the highest possible Fmax, maximum throughput, lower latency, smaller area or some combination of those attributes
- Royalty –free MicroBlaze™ soft processor core prevents your processing solution from ever becoming obsolete
- The Base System Builder tool streamlines configuration of hardware elements, processor options, bus system, and IP options, as well as automatically generating memory map and design files
- Software platform definition that includes graphical and textual tools for matching to the hardware platform, editing source code, running the compiler tool chains, and library generation
- The Eclipse-based Software Development Kit (SDK) delivers a feature-rich C/C++ code editor and compilation environment to streamline project management
Embedded Solution Elements
Intelligent, platform-aware tools simplify design and accelerate the embedded development process. Automated wizards walk engineers through the design process to reduce errors and ease learning curves.
The ISE Design Suite: Embedded Edition and System Edition both include the Embedded Development Kit (EDK) and the Software Development Kit (SDK). The EDK includes the tool suite as well as all the documentation and IP required for designing embedded applications with Xilinx platform FPGAs and embedded PowerPC and/or MicroBlaze soft processor cores. Both the EDK and the SDK are also available as a separate products.
Visit the Xilinx Embedded IP Catalog for a complete listing of embedded cores.
Learn more about how support for the AXI4 Interface Protocol offers greater productivity, flexibility, and availability for embedded FPGA design.
The IBM PowerPC®440 and 405 processor cores are hard 32-bit RISC CPU blocks designed into the fabric of select Virtex series FPGAs to implement high performance embedded applications. The combination of hard PowerPC cores with integrated co-processing capability enables a wide range of performance optimization options.
The PowerPC 440 processor supported by Virtex-5 FXT FPGAs with a sophisticated CPU/APU controller and high-bandwidth crossbar switch. The crossbar switch enables high-throughput 128-bit interfaces and point-to-point connectivity. Integrated DMA channels, dedicated memory interface, and Processor Local Bus (PLB) interfaces minimize logic utilization, reduce system latency and optimize performance. Simultaneous I/O and memory access maximizes data transfer rates.
The PowerPC 405 processor supported in both the Virtex-4 and Virtex-II Pro families integrates a scalar 5-stage pipeline, separate instruction and data caches, a JTAG port, trace FIFO, multiple timers and a memory management unit (MMU). Use of the PowerPC 405 processor in Virtex-II Pro requires ISE Design Suite software version 10.1.03i or earlier.
| PowerPC Processor Platform Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Speed (MHz) | DMIPS |
| PowerPC 440 for Virtex-5 FXT FPGA | 550 | 1100+ |
| PowerPC 405 for Virtex-4 FX FPGA | 450 | 700+ |
Xilinx delivers an innovative and flexible range of development kits for your unique embedded applications.
Featured Embedded Boards and Kits
Contains an extensible development board and the key design tools and IP needed for efficient embedded application development.
Embedded Design Platforms enable rapid software application development as well as easy customization of the processor hardware subsystems.
Additional Embedded Boards and Kits
Virtex-6 FPGA ML605 Evaluation Kit
The Virtex-6 FPGA ML605 Evaluation Kit includes the ML605 board and the ISE Design Suite Logic Edition software.
Spartan-6 FPGA SP605 Evaluation Kit
The Spartan-6 FPGA SP605 Evaluation Kit includes the SP605 board and ISE Design Suite Logic Edition: (Device-Locked) for Spartan-6 LX45T FPGA.
Spartan-6 FPGA SP601 Evaluation Kit
The Spartan-6 FPGA SP601 Evaluation Kit includes the SP601 base board and ISE Design Suite: WebPACK Edition.
Virtex-5 FX70T FPGA PowerPC and MicroBlaze Processor Edition
The Virtex-5 Embedded Kit includes the ML507 board, Platform Studio embedded tool suite and ISE design software.
Spartan -3A DSP S3D1800A FPGA MicroBlaze Processor Edition
A comprehensive development kit of hardware, design tools, IP and pre-verified reference designs can rapidly accelerate your embedded development.
Virtex-4 FPGA ML403 Embedded Platform
The Virtex-4 FPGA ML403 FX Evaluation Platform provides a great entry-level environment for developing embedded designs based on the Virtex-4 FX FPGA.
XtremeDSP™ Starter Kit- Spartan -3A DSP 1800A FPGA Edition
The XtremeDSP Starter Kit – Spartan-3A DSP FPGA Edition is a comprehensive development kit that rapidly accelerates the development of your next DSP application.
Virtex-5 FXT FPGA ML507 Evaluation Platform
The Virtex-5 FXT FPGA ML507 Evaluation Platform is a general purpose FPGA, RocketIO™ GTX , and Embedded System development board.
XtremeDSP Starter Platform - Spartan-3A DSP 1800A FPGA Edition
Low cost, entry-level environment for developing signal processing designs..
Virtex-4 FX12 FPGA PowerPC & MicroBlaze Development Kit
The Virtex-4 FX12 FPGA Edition Development Kit includes the ML403 board, Platform Studio embedded tool suite and ISE design software.
Virtex-4 FX FPGA ML410 Embedded Development Platform
The ML410 is a RoHS compliant embedded development platform based on the Xilinx Virtex-4 XC4VFX60 FPGA.
A robust ecosystem of embedded industry vendors support Xilinx embedded solutions in the areas of real time operating systems (RTOS), compilers and debuggers, network stacks and middleware as well as co-design and co-verification.
Rather than be encumbered by proprietary technologies, these best-in-class parties enable engineers to choose their own favorite embedded solutions based on past experience, new standards or unique requirements.
Electronic System Level (ESL) design refers to evolving design and verification methodologies that begin at a higher level of abstraction than the current mainstream Register Transfer Level (RTL). Many of the ESL design languages are closer in syntax and semantics to the popular ANSI C than to hardware languages like Verilog and VHDL. A wide array of FPGA design offerings are available from our ESL Providers