Xilinx unveils platform for broadcast connectivity

Programmable Logic DesignLine (11/18/2009 9:09 AM ET)

SAN FRANCISCO—Programmable logic vendor Xilinx Inc. Tuesday (Nov. 17) introduced the latest of its targeted design platforms, this one targeting broadcast connectivity applications.

The broadcast connectivity platform, based on the company's Virtex-6 FPGAs, is intended to simplify development of serial digital interface (SDI) solutions for high-performance broadcast audio and video systems, according to Xilinx (San Jose, Calif.).

The targeted design platform concept, introduced by Xilinx in February, aims to offer customers a validated set of components—including IP cores, reference designs, design environments and other tools—that encompasses the majority of a design for various target applications. This, according to the company, allows customers to focus their time and resources on adding differentiating features. The broadcast connectivity platform accelerates time to market and differentiation of professional broadcast audio, video and network connectivity products, including cameras, switchers, routers, encoders, professional monitors and cinema projectors, according to Xilinx.

Xilinx is offering a broadcast connectivity kit that integrates a Virtex-6 LX240T device on the ML605 evaluation board, an industry-standard FPGA Mezzanine Card supporting digital audio and video interfaces and bridging technologies, complete ISE Design Suite Logic Edition software development environment and targeted reference designs for implementing SDI interfaces based on Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers standards, the company said. The kit also provides full documentation to enable rapid system-level evaluation of performance, power and design trade-offs, according to Xilinx.

Xilinx is showcasing the broadcast connectivity targeted design platform at InterBEE 2009 in Tokyo Nov. 18 to 20.

The Virtex-6 FPGA broadcast connectivity kit will be available starting in January 2010, priced at $4,995, from the Xilinx website or its distributors, Xilinx said. The kit comes complete with all the documentation, cables and power supplies needed to get started, according to Xilinx. The ISE Design Suite Logic Edition included with the kit is device locked to the Virtex-6 LX240T-FF1156 FPGA, the company said.

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