Monday November 11 8:03 AM EDT
Atmel Ships World's First Eda Tool For Reconfigurable
Dsp Coprocessors
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel Corp announced today that it has introduced
an FPGA design tool that, for the first time ever, makes the in-system reconfiguration of FPGAs a
practical alternative. QuickChange(TM) multi-parameter specification software allows designers to
interactively specify multiple parameters for FIR filters, convolvers, FFTs and other digital signal
processing (DSP) functions that are implemented in Atmel's dynamically reconfigurable AT6000
series FPGAs.
Although AT6000 FPGAs have always allowed partial reconfiguration at the cell-level without
affecting FPGA operation, a complete new design was required for each parameter change.
Creating and debugging multiple designs was too cumbersome and time consuming for most
designers to consider it a viable option, which is why this design technique has been employed only
rarely.
With QuickChange, designers can specify as many DSP parameter changes as they like using just
one design. After completing the design with an initial set of parameters, the designer simply
invokes QuickChange from the Atmel design environment. QuickChange searches the design for
DSP filter coefficients and other parameters, logically groups them and displays them in a graphical
user-interface. The designer can then interactively specify as many replacement sets of parameters
as desired. The QuickChange tool then generates the FPGA logic stream for each new specified
parameter.
QuickChange can utilize the output of DSP design tools such as Mentor Graphics' DSP Station,
Synopsis' Cossap or Alta Group's Signal Processing Worksystem. QuickChange automatically
creates and stores a partial logic stream for each parameter and location of the parameter in the
FPGA. During system operation, Atmel's patented Cache Logic(R) system will load the partial
logic streams into the correct location on the AT6000 array without affecting the operation of the
rest of the device.
The AT6000 is the only FPGA that allows partial reconfiguration during operation. Other available
SRAM-based FPGAs require that an entire new design be loaded into the device. This either
compromises system performance since the FPGA must be stopped to be re-loaded, or it requires
the use of redundant devices with associated cost and power consumption penalties.
According to Joel Rosenberg, Atmel's FPGA marketing manager, "Although in-system
reconfigurability has been touted by the suppliers of SRAM-based FPGAs as a silicon-efficient
means of implementing multi-parameter DSP designs, they have been extremely rare. Prior to the
introduction of QuickChange, the hurdles presented by the need to completely reconfigure the
device to change even a single parameter made implementing these designs a practical
impossibility. QuickChange removes these obstacles. A process that once required hundreds of
hours to complete has been reduced to a few minutes. As a result, we expect to see many more
designers take advantage of the AT6000's partial reconfigurability to realize significant cost savings
by increasing silicon efficiency and decreasing power consumption."
QuickChange multi-parameter specification software is included with Atmel's Integrated
Development System, version 4.0. Prices for the software start at $995 each.
Headquartered in San Jose, California, with principal manufacturing facilities in Colorado Springs,
Colorado and in Rousset, France, Atmel designs, develops, manufactures, and markets on a
worldwide basis Flash, EEPROMs, and EPROMs, as well as programmable logic,
microcontrollers, and application-specific devices.
Atmel product and financial information can be retrieved from its Fax-on-Demand service. In
North America call 800-29-ATMEL / 800-292-8635. International, from a fax phone, call
408-441-0732. You can send your request via e-mail to literature@atmel.com or visit Atmel's
Web site at atmel.com
NOTE: Cache Logic is a registered trademark of Atmel Corporation. QuickChange is a
trademark of Atmel Corporation. SOURCE Atmel Corp. |
