I snapped off the picture of the HAPS-70 system below at a recent customer meeting and it gave me the idea for this blog. Other than the fact that the systems look “well sexy” (Yes, usually a term you do not hear used to describe hardware) this picture also highlights the flexible nature of the system interconnect architecture with the high performance coax cables and recommended usage.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping, Getting Started, Tips and Traps
Traditionally ease of use for FPGA-based prototyping was all about how long it took to go through FPGA synthesis and FPGA place and route. Easy was defined as faster through the flow. With advances in Synopsys’ Certify and Synplify tools adding incremental compilation methods, multi-processing & fast synthesis specifically for FPGA-based prototyping the impact of “bit” file turn-around has been dramatically reduced. With that part of the problem solved the term “ease of use” is now used to represent more than just the implementation tool flow. The ease of use phrase has been extended to include the complete usage flow from first bring up to deployment for HW/SW Integration, System Validation and SW Development.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping, Getting Started, Tips and Traps
I was going to blog something all technical with massive value to you, the readers, but then I got sidetracked when one of our customers sent me a humorous picture of their HAPS Christmas tree.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping, Humor
One of the cool interactive features you find standard across automotive websites today is a “Build Your Own” capability where you select from a range of options to create your customize dream vehicle. Or if not a dream something that fits the family budget. Base or Premium? Dark Grey Metallic or Ticket Magnet Red? Fog Light Kit and Spoiler? As you add each item a running tally is kept so you’re left with a convenient summary of the specifications.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping, Getting Started, Tips and Traps
Last week I attended the Embedded Technology and Electronic Design Solutions Fair in Yokohama Japan. We showcased the newly launched HAPS-70 FPGA-based prototyping systems. It was a great show, really busy.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping
Today (November 12th 2012) Synopsys announced the availability of Synopsys’ HAPS®-70 Series FPGA-based prototyping system solutions extending the successful HAPS product line to address the increasing size and complexity of system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The HAPS-70 systems deliver the most comprehensive solution in the industry that combines physical hardware with fully integrated prototyping software.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping, Getting Started
This week I ran across more FPGA-based prototyping in the wild! I was visiting the Synopsys corporate offices in Mountain View CA when I walked past the cube of Hezi Saar. Hezi is the product manager of Synopsys’ DesignWare IP for MIPI. In Hezi’s cube I say this very pretty enclosure housing the MIPI D-PHY test chip daughter boards and a HAPS-51 system with the CSI and DSI digital controllers were running on.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping
I love it when I see real world uses of FPGA-Based Prototyping. The picture below was snapped during the PCI Sig show in July 2012. The demonstration shows Synopsys’ solution for PCI Express Gen 3 all running on the HAPS systems which is actually hidden behind some of the other hardware, just take my word for it.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping
Synopsys’ HAPS FPGA-based prototyping systems are Xilinx FPGA based and have been for most of the generations. Why is that you ask yourself? Well the simple answer is that the Xilinx devices fit the HAPS architecture better. The Xilinx I/O is generic across them all while the I/O on the Altera devices usually has some set of dedicated functions on select pins. What this means to HAPS is that an Altera based version would have restrictions of what pins could be used as part of the flexible interconnect topography reducing the flexibility of the solution. I doubt this is the reason the majority of FPGA-based prototypers use Xilinx as well as seen from the survey results below.
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping
Question: Is it Emulation or FPGA-Based Prototyping that I need for my project?
Posted in FPGA-Based Prototyping, Tips and Traps
Michael (Mick) Posner joined Synopsys in 1994 and is currently Director of Product Marketing for Synopsys' DesignWare USB Solutions. Previously, he was the Director of Product Marketing for Physical (FPGA-based) Prototyping and has held various product marketing, technical marketing manager and application consultant positions at Synopsys. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the University of Brighton, England.