Acromag PMC Module Uses Spartan-6 FPGA to Reduce Costs

By DE Editors

Acromag introduced new PMC mezzanine modules featuring the cost-optimized Xilinx Spartan-6 field programmable gate array (FPGA). The PMC-SLX reconfigurable FPGA modules can save thousands of dollars, yet still deliver high-performance computing for algorithm acceleration and custom logic processing tasks.

Spartan-6 FPGAs have integrated logic, DSP, and memory resources that leverage the Virtex-6 FPGA platforms architecture and system-level blocks for quicker and smoother system development. Acromag adds a high-throughput PCI-X interface, large memory banks, and easy access to field I/O signals to deliver a ready-to-use FPGA computing module for advanced signal processing applications. Typical uses include hardware simulation, in-circuit diagnostics, communications, signal intelligence, and image processing.

Field I/O interfaces to the FPGA via the rear J4/P4 connector and/or with optional front mezzanine I/O extension modules. 64 I/O or 32 LVDS lines are accessible through the rear connector. Acromags plug-in AXM mezzanine cards provide additional I/O processing capabilities. Acromags Engineering Design Kit provides utilities to help users develop custom programs, load VHDL into the FPGA, and 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.

For more information, visit Acromag.
Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.