GOEPEL Extends ChipVORX to Xilinx Kintex7 FPGA Series
October 29, 2013. GOEPEL electronic has introduced a special IP model library for the Xilinx Kintex7 FPGA family, thereby enabling ChipVORX technology utilization for FPGA assisted test and programming.
The libraries, described as ChipVORX models, enable the fully automatic usage of a native design-integrated FPGA for execution of various at-speed test and programming tasks utilizing the JTAG interface and special soft cores. Without detailed FPGA knowledge, users are now able to test DDR(x) memories, measure cycle frequencies, verify high-speed I/O (HSIO) by bit error rate tests (BERT) and eye diagram visualization, and program flash memories at high speed. Because the method does not require any nail contacting and supports dynamic tests, it addresses basic problems in testing complex electronic units with extremely reduced physical access caused by BGA components, gigabit signals and high density interconnection structures.
“The demand for highly automated FPGA assisted test and programming solutions increases continuously. Our new ChipVORX models for the Xilinx Kintex7 family are designed to unlock this potential for another market-leading FPGA series,” said Bettina Richter, marketing manager with GOEPEL electronic. “At the same time, we systematically extend our product range of Embedded System Access strategies for Xilinx FPGA. That means, users may resort to the same tools for implementing their test and programming strategies also when applying different FPGA families.”
The Kintex7 FPGA devices are manufactured in a 28-nm process, providing an optimized combination of price, performance, and power consumption. They are suitable for development of new product generations in the areas of wireless communication, consumer, embedded systems, or broadcast. The FPGA are integrated in flip-chip packages with up to 1,156 connections on a 1.0-mm grid, not allowing direct contacting with external instruments. ChipVORX has been developed to provide effective tools with minimal access requirements for test, hardware debugging, flash programming and design validation after chip mounting.
ChipVORX is an IP-based technology for implementation, access, and control of chip embedded Instruments via IEEE 1149.x/JTAG. It also supports FPGA embedded instruments in the form of soft cores. The ChipVORX library currently contains more than 500 different test and measurement instruments for all leading FPGA platforms. The usage of ChipVORX requires neither expert background knowledge nor specific FPGA tools or continuous IP adjustments.
FPGA Embedded Instruments are permanently integrated or temporarily implemented test and measurement functions in an FPGA. Virtually, they are the counterpart to external instruments as they don’t require invasive contacting by means of probes or nails. Hence, the problem of signal distortion in high-speed designs by parasitic contacting effects is omitted. FPGA embedded Instruments are part of the so called Embedded System Access (ESA) technologies for validation, test, and debug as well as the programming of complex boards and systems. They can be utilized throughout the entire product life cycle, enabling improved test coverage at reduced costs.
The ChipVORX model development and their integration into respective system software is the result of a strategic cooperation between GOEPEL electronic and Testonica Lab. The ChipVORX IP models for BERT will be supported in SYSTEM CASCON starting from version 4.6.3, and are activated per license manager just like the system software. SYSTEM CASCON is GOEPEL electronic’s professional JTAG/boundary-scan development environment with currently more than 45 fully integrated ISP, test, and debug tools. In terms of hardware, ChipVORX is completely supported in the platform SCANFLEX.
The project upon which this information is based was funded by the Federal Minister of Education and Research within the frame of the Eurostars funding program (E! 5568 COMBOARD).