GOEPEL Demonstrates ESA with Zynq-7000 SoC at Embedded World
February 28, 2013. At Embedded World 2013 in Nuremberg, Germany this week, GOEPEL electronic demonstrated programming and test strategies based on its Embedded System Access (ESA) technologies. As part of a technological partnership, Xilinx provided a special board featuring Zynq-XC7Z020 All Programmable SoC components.
FPGA Embedded Instruments implemented in GOEPEL's ChipVORX technology, plus processor emulation tests based on the company's VarioTAP technology, were demonstrated at Embedded World 2013 by executing hardware tests, design validations, and flash programming.
“The Zynq-7000 platforms offer a completely new level of programmability for the highly flexible design of system-on-chip (SoC) based solutions. Visitors are welcome to learn how state-of-the-art processors can be supported in test and programming by our Embedded System Access strategies,”, said Stefan Meissner, spokesman for GOEPEL electronic. “This approach additionally demonstrates how to provide appropriate tools for test, hardware debug, flash programming, as well as design validation after chip mounting with minimal access efforts.”
Sanjay Gehani, senior manager for the alliance program for Xilinx, added, “Programming and test are key considerations for customers taking Zynq-7000 designs to market, and we are excited by the extremely innovative work that GOEPEL electronic has undertaken in this area. GOEPEL electronic now offers a complete ESA portfolio for all Xilinx ICs spanning the wide range of processor core options we offer. Most importantly, their solution offers the seamless migration of test and programming procedures from design to production, supporting the entire product life cycle.”
The Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC combines a high performance dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 architecture with the functionality of a complex FPGA. It enables fully programmable system integration in a set of hardware, IP, and software, and simultaneously reduces the number of discrete components as well as the power consumption. The system properties address a range of applications in areas such as industrial, medical, consumer, communications, and automotive. The Zynq components are integrated in a BGA package, preventing direct contact with external instruments.
ESA technologies enable the electrical access to embedded systems without utilizing mechanical nails or probe contacts (non-invasive methods). They apply design-integrated test and debug interfaces such as JTAG. In addition to boundary scan, ESA technologies include procedures like chip embedded instruments, processor emulation test, in-system programming, or core-assisted programming.
VarioTAP enables the reconfiguration of the integrated processor into a native design embedded test and programming controller via the JTAG debug port. This test approach enables the functional at-speed test of all peripheral interfaces, including RAM, communication buses, and analog I/O. The execution of customer-specific software IP is also possible.
ChipVORX is an IP-based technology for implementation, access and control of chip embedded instruments via IEEE 1149.x. It also supports FPGA embedded instruments in the form of soft cores. GOEPEL electronic’s ChipVORX library currently contains more than 300 different test and measurement instruments for leading FPGA platforms.