WIXOM, Mich., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ — Acromag’s new XMC FPGA module, the XMC-VLX, features a configurable Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA enhanced with multiple high-speed memory buffers and a high-throughput PCIe interface. Field I/O interfaces to the FPGA via the rear J4/P4 connector and/or with optional front mezzanine plug-in I/O modules. The result is a powerful and flexible I/O processor module that is capable of executing custom instruction sets and algorithms. Typical uses include hardware simulation, military servers, in-circuit diagnostics, communications, signal intelligence, and image processing. The boards start at $5750 with several options for FPGA logic capacity and extended temperature operation.
“These XMC Virtex-5 FPGA modules combine very advanced signal processing capabilities with high speed data transfer in a remarkably affordable package,” remarked Joseph Primeau, Acromag’s embedded sales and marketing director.
Three models provide a choice of logic-optimized FPGAs to match the performance requirements. Cards can be ordered with a Xilinx VLX85T, VLX110T, or VLX155T FPGA featuring up to 155,000 logic cells and 128 DSP48E slices. Each model is ready for use in conduction-cooled systems and offers an option to upgrade with extended temperature range parts suitable for -40 to 85 degrees C operation.
64 I/O lines are accessible through the rear (J4) connector. Additional I/O processing is supported on a separate mezzanine card that plugs into the FPGA base board. A variety of these mezzanine I/O cards are available to provide front-end 14-bit 105 MHz A/D conversions or an interface for CMOS digital I/O, RS-485 differential signals, or extra LVDS I/O lines.
Large, high-speed memory banks provide efficient data handling. Generous 32M x 32-bit DDR2 SDRAM buffers store captured data prior to FPGA processing. The data is directly accessible through the FPGA. Afterward, data is moved to the 1M x 64-bit dual-ported SRAM for high-speed DMA transfer to the bus or CPU. This memory provides direct links from the PCIe bus and to the FPGA. The high-bandwidth PCIe 4-lane interface ensures fast data throughput.
Acromag’s Engineering Design Kit provides utilities to help users develop custom programs, load VHDL into the FPGA and to establish DMA transfers between the FPGA and the CPU. The kit includes a compiled FPGA file and example VHDL code provided as selectable blocks with examples for the local bus interface, read/writes, and change-of-state interrupts to the PCI bus. A JTAG interface allows users to perform on-board VHDL simulation. Further analysis is supported with a ChipScope™ Pro interface.
About Acromag
Acromag has designed and manufactured measurement and control products for more than 50 years. They are an international corporation with a world headquarters near Detroit, Michigan and a global network of sales representatives and distributors. Acromag offers a complete line of embedded I/O and industrial computer products for military, aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, and scientific research applications.
