New Computer Boards From Acromag
Wixom-based Acromag Thursday announced its new VPX-VLX series of 3U VPX FPGA boards that feature 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 P2 connector with optional front mezzanine plug-in I/O modules.
The result is a powerful and flexible signal processor card that is capable of rapidly executing custom instruction sets and algorithms in embedded computers.
Typical uses include signal intelligence, image processing, hardware simulation, and communications.
The boards start at $7,100 with several options for FPGA logic capacity and conduction-cooled extended temperature operation.
"These VPX Virtex-5 FPGA boards combine very advanced signal processing capabilities with high speed data transfer for real-time computing applications," said 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 available in a format designed for use in air-cooled or conduction-cooled systems suitable for -40 to 85 degrees C (-40 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit) operation.
Large, high-speed memory banks provide efficient data handling. Dual-ported 1M x 64-bit SRAM enables high-speed DMA transfers to/from the CPU while simultaneously writing data to memory. Generous 32M x 32-bit DDR2 SDRAM buffers give the FPGA fast access to I/O port data. FPGA code loads from the PCIe bus or from on-board flash memory. A double fat pipe 4-lane PCIe interface ensures very fast data throughput.
64 I/O lines are accessible through the rear (P2) connector. A series of AXM extension modules are available to provide additional front-end A/D, RS-485, CMOS, or LVDS I/O channels through a mezzanine connector on the front of the board.
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.
Acromag has designed and manufactured measurement and control products for more than 50 years. They are an international corporation with a world headquarters in Wixom 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.
More at www.acromag.com
