Xcell Journal Online -- MultiPRO Desktop Tool article

Support|documentation

Xcell Journal Online Article








	Xcell Home

	Articles by Date



	Subscription

	Comments & Suggestions

	Write Articles for Xcell

Prototype All Xilinx Devices In-System or Standalone – with MultiPRO Desktop Tool
by Michelle Badal, Marketing Manager, Configuration Solutions, Xilinx, Inc..
michelle.badal@xilinx.com (02/15/03)

Now you can program/configure Xilinx devices from your desktop with a single programming hardware solution.

In today’s competitive landscape, engineers need to have flexibility – it’s the key to maximizing your design efforts. The MultiPRO Desktop Tool, our latest programming hardware, offers a number of features to provide you with the most flexible, low-risk, and cost-effective way to prototype all Xilinx devices.

MultiPRO Desktop Tool Increases Flexibility and Reduces Cost

MultiPRO Desktop Tool (Table 1), released in December, is a complete programming solution that enables you to realize the full potential of Xilinx programmable logic devices. Designed specifically to interface with a PC via parallel port (IEEE 1284), the MultiPRO Desktop Tool provides:

In-system programming and configuration of all Xilinx devices
Standalone programming of CoolRunner™-II CPLDs and XC18V00 ISP PROMs
Comprehensive configuration mode support
A low-cost solution by integrating desktop programmer and download cable functionality.

Table 1
MultiPRO Desktop Tool

In-System Programming

With MultiPRO Desktop Tool, you can program and configure all Xilinx devices in-system. MultiPRO Desktop Tool’s flexibility enables you to program your devices right at your desk by following these steps:

Power MultiPRO with +5VDC, via an external AC power brick
Use ISE iMPACT v5.1i SP3 or higher on your PC
Interface the MultiPRO pod with the PC via a parallel port (IEEE 1284) (cable included)
Connect the MultiPRO pod to the PCB with the ribbon cables (included)
Run software to download bitstream and program/configure target FPGA, CPLD, or PROM.

Standalone Programming

MultiPRO Desktop Tool reduces the risks of prototyping by enabling you to perform standalone programming on CoolRunner-II CPLDs and XC18V00 ISP. As with in-system programming, you can program your devices right at your desk by following these steps:

Power MultiPRO with +5VDC, via an external AC power brick
Use ISE iMPACT v5.1i SP3 or higher on your PC
Interface the MultiPRO pod with the PC via a parallel port (IEEE 1284) (cable included)
Connect the MultiPRO pod to a CoolRunner-II CPLD or XC18V00 ISP PROM adapter (adapters available for all package types)
Run software to program target CoolRunner-II or XC18V00 ISP PROM .

Comprehensive Configuration Mode Support

The comprehensive configuration mode support gives you the flexibility to choose the most suitable mode for your design, while using only one programmer hardware solution. MultiPRO Desktop Tool is supported by ISE iMPACT download software v5.1i SP3 or higher, and supports JTAG (IEEE 1149.1), Xilinx slave serial, and SelectMAP modes (Table 1).

MultiPRO Desktop Tool Features

Provides standardization with J Drive™ IEEE 1532 programming engine
Provides prototype debug environment with ChipScope™ ILA and ChipScope Pro compatible
Automatically adapts to target I/O voltage. Conclusion MultiPRO Desktop Tool reduces the risks and costs of prototyping in a number of ways:
It provides a single solution that meets all your desktop programming and download cable needs.
It frees up more expensive resources designed for mass programming and configuring of devices.

MultiPRO Desktop Tool provides the most comprehensive programming solution to date from Xilinx. For more information on how to increase flexibility, reduce risk, and reduce system prototyping cost, visit: www.xilinx.com/products/silicon_solutions/proms/resources/index.htm/.

Printable PDF version of this article. (02/15/03) 170 KB

/csi/footer.htm