Actel's new VariCore embedded programmable gate array (EPGA) star IP cores for ASIC and application-specific standard product (ASSP) systems on a chip (SoCs) have application whenever time-to-market and version variants of the same product are advantageous. Actel formed the VariCore business unit to develop its EPGA cores, which it says are the first broadly available commercial embeddable and reconfigurable 'soft hardware' IP products for the ASIC and ASSP market.
VariCore EPGA cores increase SoC design flexibility and reduce design time and costs, helping ASIC and ASSP providers gain or retain their competitive edge.
"Embedded reconfigurable logic cores have been the single most important missing capability to system-level silicon device designers and integrators," stated Jerry Worchel, President of inSearch Research, a respected semiconductor research analysis firm. "I believe the market demand for embedded reprogrammability is going to explode, because of the inherent benefits it will provide for very large integrated system designs. Actel is the first major pure-play FPGA provider to offer a competitive commercial product to the greater breadth of the ASIC and ASSP design community."
VariCore EPGA logic is a versatile, highly flexible and efficient embedded FPGA core architecture that provides scaleable reprogrammability for ASICs and ASSPs.
VariCore EPGA blocks are, in essence, reprogrammable 'soft hardware' core tiles based on a three-input LUT (look up table) structure. PEGs, consisting of 2500 ASIC gates, are the 'primary embedded gate' blocks of EPGAs. These PEG blocks are scaleable and configurable from a 2x1 EPGA of 5000 ASIC gates up to a 4x4 EPGA core of 40 000 ASIC gates. In addition, the family's 4x4 and 4x2 members offer eight optional, cascadable RAM modules with aspect ratios of 1kx9 or 512x18. VariCore EPGAs can also be partitioned where needed throughout any ASIC or ASSP design. VariCore EPGA cores can handle system clock speeds of up to 100 MHz. In a 4x4 EPGA core utilised at 80%, VariCore EPGA cores reach the levels of performance noted while maintaining 100-200 mW power consumption depending on core performance.
Actel is represented in South Africa by ASIC Design Services. For further information contact Kobus van Rooyen.
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