WIXOM, Mich., 23 Sept. 2011. Acromag in Wixom, Mich., is introducing the PMC-SLX mezzanine boards based on the Xilinx Spartan-6 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for advanced signal processing applications. These boards, based on the PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC) form factor, are for embedded computing systems developers with tightening budget and time constraints, Acromag officials say.

Typical uses include hardware simulation, in-circuit diagnostics, communications, signal intelligence, and image processing. Spartan-6 FPGAs have integrated logic, digital signal processor (DSP), and memory resources. Acromag adds a high-throughput PCI-eXtended (PCI-X) interface, large memory banks, and access to field I/O signals. Extra memory and extended-temperature options available.

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. Acromag’s plug-in AXM mezzanine cards provide additional I/O processing. AXM mezzanine I/O cards are available to provide front-end 14-bit 105 MHz A/D conversions or an interface for CMOS digital I/O, RS-485 differential signals, or extra LVDS I/O lines.

Dual-ported SRAM (256k or 1M-by-64-bit) facilitates high-speed DMA transfers to the bus or CPU. This memory provides direct links from the PCI bus and to the FPGA. 16 megabytes of flash memory enables on-board storage and loading of the FPGA code. PMC-SLX modules are ready for conduction-cooled systems and offer an optional upgrade to extended temperature range parts suitable for operations in temperatures from -40 to 85 Celsius.

Acromag’s Engineering Design Kit provides utilities to help 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. A JTAG interface allows users to perform on-board VHDL simulation. Further analysis is supported with a ChipScope Pro interface.

Acromag offers C libraries for VxWorks, Linux, and other operating systems. The libraries provide generic routines (source code included) to handle reads, writes, interrupts, and other functions. For more information contact Acromag online at www.acromag.com.

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