(1) IMPULSE ACCELERATED TECHNOLOGIES Toolset moves software code to FPGA hardware to quicken embedded system design eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "CoDeveloper for Virtex-4 allows software programmers and FPGA designers to describe parallel algorithms for image processing, DSP, encryption and other processing-intensive applications using standard C language. Software programmers are given independent access to a wide range of FPGAs by allowing hardware accelerators to be compiled directly from C software descriptions." Readers say: » "More details on the analysis of untimed C code would be usefu.l"
» "A very good product."
» "The price ($4995) is quite a bit lower than I expected - a nice surprise at the end of the article!"
» "Sounds like a great offering, but as a power semiconductor developer, its not really my game"
» "FPGA are the wave of the future (present) and using C to define them makes the embedded world a little friendlier."
» "Interesting. Hopefully this can be extended to other FPGA's as well."
» "This seems quite interesting - and the cost refereshingly set within reach of even smaller firms."
» "We use Altera Stratix-II around here, so it's a better chance that I may try CoDeveloper for Altera."
» "The success of this product will depend on how the trade off between hardware and software is made. So feedback to the user about what areas are effecting these choices is critical."
» "The software team at our location would sometimes like to use HW acceleration via FPGAs on their algorithms. However this requires coordination with the EE team and a lot of design work. If the SW team could directly program using the C code they are familiar with it could dramatically speed up their development."
» "Pretty cool if it works...."
» "It's not new, Mentor Graphics offers similar functionality for a long time now, but the price is much more affordable. I'd like to see it target Spartan-3 FPGA though."
» "I like being able to use C instead of VHDL."
» "This product sounds very interesting. The price tag does put a damper on my excitement for the product. It would be interesting to see a demostration of the product or have an evaluation version to see if this product would meet our requirements."
» "Too much magic."
» "This could leverage both existing algorithms and programmer skills for FPGA applications."
» "The Xilinx Virtex-4 seems to be the great platform for accelerating embedded system
applications."
» "CoDeveloper should make it much easier for software programmers to make use of FPGAs."
USABILITY RANK: 1
(2) ALTERA Large, low-cost FPGA touted as ASIC, ASSP alternative eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Altera Corp. is offering what it claims is the largest, low-cost field programmable gate array (FPGA) with densities of more than 68K logic elements, up to 1.1-Mbits of embedded RAM and 150 dedicated 18 X 18 multipliers to support high-performance DSP applications." Readers say: » "Should mention compatibility with existing support equipment."
» "Unclear about how it is compelling for ASIC and ASSP."
» "That's not low cost. To claim low cost and enter high volume embedded/consumer electronics market device should cost an order of magnitude less."
» "Not innovative enough. Nothing new."
» "Too expensive for our product applications give total BOM target of < $150."
» "Excellent silicon device."
» "A very good product and seems interesting."
USABILITY RANK: 2
(3) LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR New programmable device family combines CPLD and FPGA features eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "In its third major and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) announcement in the last 12 months, Lattice Semiconductor Corp. has introduced MachXO, a new product family that combines the key features of complex programmable logic device (PLD) and FPGA technologies in a single device." Readers say: » "Supports an important low-end market."
» "Another nice part from Lattice."
» "Interesting design; it will definitely affect the industry."
» "Sounds like a great offering."
USABILITY RANK: 4
(4) PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTOR CMOS logic family brings robust ESD protection to battery-powered devices eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "The key feature in Philip Semiconductors' newest CMOS logic family is the level of electro-static discharge (ESD) protection the devices provide. In typical applications, logic devices offer ESD protection of 2-kV. The company has been able to more than double it to 5-kV." Readers say: » "Significant ESD protection improvement."
» "Besides the intended application, it will be of use in energy harvesting technologies with its low .8 volt operation range."
» "The enhanced ESD rating is definitely a big advantage. So is the very small package sizes."
» "This make laptops more durable."
» "Other packages such as SO should be available as well."
» "GREAT! reduced power consumption & extended battery life is of great necessity nowadays."
» "We need tiny logic for ASIC temporary fixes all the time..."
USABILITY RANK: 3
(5) IBM ASIC vendor deepens leadership position with pair of 65-nm devices eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "The Cu-65LP (low-power) products are IBM's first low-power ASICs and build on its differentiated and leading technical capabilities to provide best time-to-market and manage lowest risk and design execution. IBM's strategy is clear--it is focused on driving its high-end ASIC technology leadership into the low-end for consumer embedded devices." Readers say: » "Yeah it's huge and fast but who afford the development costs?"
» "Very impressive."
» "It is unlikely that the price point for this product is in the realm we need for our Ultr-low-cost products < $500 customer cost."
» "Technical Info is not complete, having the task of a clear technical assessment impossible.
For example, Leakage value for MOSFETs should include the temperature and specify if the leakage value is the overall value of all leakage components (gate, junctions, channel..)"
» "This dual offering will greatly help improve the logic ASIC technology at the high end."
USABILITY RANK: 7
(6) PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS Miniature 4-channel quad UARTs reduce board size eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Philips Semiconductor, an established supplier of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) devices, continues to expand it product portfolio by offering its 4-channel advanced 16C quad UARTs in what it claims is the industry's smallest packaging." Readers say:
» "A decent part in a tiny package."
» "Very significant in the mobile communication industry and analog circuit industry."
» "Miniaturization has greatly helped in reducing 16C quad UARTs."
» "The smaller size is a definite advantage."
USABILITY RANK: 5
(7) EXAR Highly integrated 28-channel T1/E1 LIU provides redundancy without relays eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Designed to process the section line and path overhead in the SONET/SDH datastream, Voyager, part number XRT86SH328, is a highly integrated device that helps reduce board space in a big way." Readers say: » "These highly integrated parts are usually a drain on the embedded software tasks...if this part helps automate some of the statistics, alarms, and signaling functions then it will be viable."
» "...Integration is king and this looks like a step in the right direction."
» "Cool stuff."
USABILITY RANK: 10
(8) VIOSOFT Linux toolkit helps FPGA users easily develop mobile platform eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Viosoft Corp. has developed a toolkit that enables field programmable gate array (FPGA) designers to develop, debug, and deploy mobile applications based on QuickLogic's Wi-Fi bridge and µWatt programmable hard disk drive (HDD) controller for Intel Corp.'s PXA2xx embedded processor." Readers say: » "We're not so deep into the chips at this time, mostly a software shop, but we are looking to move onto FPGA devices."
» "For easier manufacturing and designing, there should be less programming."
» "Embedded Linux is the way to go for all developments."
USABILITY RANK: 9
(9) RAMBUS Integrated PCI Express solution reduces third-party IP vendor risk eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "The loud cry of developers demanding a PCI Express (PCIe) solution that eliminates interoperability risk and complexities related to multiple IP vendors has been heard by Rambus Inc.
The company has delivered a fully integrated solution that allows optimization for a variety of applications. It has completed PCI-SIG compliance and interoperability testing, and meets the PCIe 1.1 base specification." Readers say: » "It is always good have better integration. Innovative techniques."
» "Really very helpful."
USABILITY RANK: 8
(10) ACTEL Starter kit validates ProASIC3/E FPGA programmability eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Actel Corp. is sampling its 250-K gate A3P250 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for $1.50 in volume quantities. To help designers implement the part into their designs, Actel is also offering a ProASIC3 starter kit in two versions--one for prototyping, another for evaluation. The starter kit allows designers to study the ProASIC3/E family's architectural features such as secure in-system programmability (ISP) and live at power-up capability." Readers say: » "Very compact and easily integrated into the market. Seems easy to install and use."
» "This seems quite interesting - and the cost refereshingly set within reach of even smaller firms."
» "I love starter/eval kits...looks good."
USABILITY RANK: 6
