Xcell Journal

Solutions for a Programmable World
Issue 62: XtremeDSP Solutions: The Sky's the Limit

Viewpoints

• Letter from the Publisher
  Forrest Couch, Publisher, Xcell Publications: A New Era of Signal Processing
• View from the Top
  Vin Ratford, Xilinx VP and GM, PSG Division: Savoring the Highs and Lows
  High performance and low power distinguish our signal processing solutions.
• Analyst
  Kenton Williston, Site Editor, DSP DesignLine: Easy FPGA Development
  If current trends continue, FPGAs may become easier to program than DSPs.
• Analyst
  Jeff Bier, President, BDTI: DSP Performance of FPGAs Revealed
  Popular report provides independent DSP benchmark results for FPGAs.
• Xpectations
  Ivo Bolsens, Xilinx CTO: Virtual Worlds
  Future systems will have to rely on programmability.

Feature Articles

• Processing Signals from Outer Space with BEE2
  UC Berkeley astronomers programmed the BEE2 platform using a programming environment that leverages Linux, Xilinx System Generator, and Xilinx EDK.
• Prototyping Applications with the Spartan-3A DSP Starter Platform
  The new Spartan-3A DSP Starter Platform includes expansion capabilities for low-cost and easy-to-use application development.
• Future-Proofing Military Applications Using FPGAs
  Technology insertion using COTS FPGA-based products promises to deliver significant benefits but requires adequate planning.
• Using MATLAB to Create IP for System Generator for DSP
  You can use MATLAB M-files with the AccelChip synthesis tool to optimize FPGA implementations.
• Automatic IP Block Selection with IP-Explorer Technology
  You can use the AccelDSP synthesis tool to select from various macro-architectures based on your system requirements.
• Prototyping Image Processing Applications
  Development platforms for FPGA-based image processing applications present some interesting system-design challenges.
• The Virtex-5 SXT Option for High-Performance Digital Signal Processing
  Understanding the demand for high-performance DSP.
• Boosting Wireless Subsystem Performance with FPGA Co-Processing
  Analyzing different hardware/software partitioning schemes.
• Selecting the Right Memory Controller for Real-Time Applications
  You can use performance modeling to compare the MPMC memory controller and CoreConnect bus for high-bandwidth DSP applications.
• Integrating HDL Design and Verification with System Generator
  Designing and verifying the CABAC functionality of an H.264 video encoder is easy with System Generator for DSP.
• Accelerating System Development Cycles with the Radar Blockset Library
  A radar blockset library offers components selectable from the generic Simulink environment for complex systems designs using FPGAs.
• Audio Sample Rate Conversion in FPGAs
  An efficient implementation of audio algorithms in programmable logic.

Resources

• Technical Papers and Literature
  Jumpstart your DSP design with Xilinx application notes describing specific design examples and methodologies.
• Development Boards and Kits
  Xilinx DSP development boards and starter kits provide the fastest path to implementing your systems or algorithms onto FPGAs.
• Education and Services
  Xilinx Education Services is ready to help you use DSP solutions in your next design.
• Software Tools and IP
  Xilinx DSP Intellectual Property help you develop tailored, high-performance DSP solutions.
• Technical Support
  Xilinx Technical Support answers your DSP application questions.