8
Performance
The combination of architectural features described above
enables SX devices to operate with internal clock
frequencies exceeding 300 MHz, enabling very fast
execution of even complex logic functions. Thus, the SX
family is an optimal platform upon which to integrate the
functionality previously contained in multiple CPLDs. In
addition, designs that previously would have required a gate
array to meet performance goals can now be integrated into
an SX device with dramatic improvements in cost and time
to market. Using timing-driven place and route tools,
designers can achieve highly deterministic device
performance. With SX devices, designers do not need to use
complicated performance-enhancing design techniques
such as the use of redundant logic to reduce fanout on
critical nets or the instantiation of macros in HDL code to
achieve high performance.
I/O Modules
Each I/O on an SX device can be configured as an input, an
output, a tristate output, or a bidirectional pin. Even without
the inclusion of dedicated I/O registers, these I/Os, in
combination with array registers, can achieve clock-to-out
(pad-to-pad) timing as fast as 3.7 ns. I/O cells that have
embedded latches and flip-flops require instantiation in HDL
code; this is a design complication not encountered in SX
FPGAs. Fast pin-to-pin timing ensures that the device will
have little trouble interfacing with any other device in the
system, which in turn enables parallel design of system
components and reduces overall design time.
Power Requirements
The SX family supports 3.3V operation and is designed to
tolerate 5.0V inputs. (Table 1). Power consumption is
extremely low due to the very short distances signals are
required to travel to complete a circuit. Power requirements
are further reduced because of the small number of
low-resistance antifuses in the path. The antifuse
architecture does not require active circuitry to hold a
charge (as do SRAM or EPROM), making it the lowest-power
architecture on the market.
Boundary Scan Testing (BST)
All SX devices are IEEE 1149.1 compliant. SX devices offer
superior diagnostic and testing capabilities by providing
Boundary Scan Testing (BST) and probing capabilities.
These functions are controlled through the special test pins
in conjunction with the program fuse. The functionality of
each pin is described in Table 2.In the dedicated test mode,
TCK, TDI and TDO are dedicated pins and cannot be used as
regular I/Os. In flexible mode, TMS should be set HIGH
through a pull-up resistor of 10kΩ. TMS can be pulled LOW
to initiate the test sequence.
The program fuse determines whether the device is in
dedicated or flexible mode. The default (fuse not blown) is
flexible mode. .
Development Tool Support
The SX devices are fully supported by Actel’s line of FPGA
development tools, including the Actel DeskTOP series and
Designer Advantage tools. The Actel DeskTOP series is an
integrated design environment for PCs that includes design
entry, simulation, synthesis, and place and route tools.
Designer Advantage, Actel’s suite of FPGA development
point tools for PCs and Workstations, includes the ACTgen
Macro Builder, Designer with DirectTime timing driven
place and route and analysis tools, and device programming
software.
In addition, the SX devices contain ActionProbe circuitry
that provides built-in access to every node in a design,
enabling 100-percent real-time observation and analysis of a
device's internal logic nodes without design iteration. The
probe circuitry is accessed by Silicon Explorer II, an
easy-to-use integrated verification and logic analysis tool
that can sample data at 100 MHz (asynchronous) or 66 MHz
(synchronous). Silicon Explorer II attaches to a PC’s
standard COM port, turning the PC into a fully functional
18-channel logic analyzer. Silicon Explorer II allows
designers to complete the design verification process at
their desks and reduces verification time from several hours
per cycle to only a few seconds.
SX Probe Circuit Control Pins
The Silicon Explorer II tool uses the boundary scan ports
(TDI, TCK, TMS and TDO) to select the desired nets for
verification. The selected internal nets are assigned to the
PRA/PRB pins for observation. Figure 7 illustrates the
Table 1 •Supply Voltages
VCCA VCCI VCCR
Input
Tolerance
Output
Drive
A54SX08
A54SX16
A54SX32
3.3V 3.3V 5.0V 3.3V 3.3V
3.3V 3.3V 5.0V 5.0V 3.3V
A54SX16P
3.3V 3.3V 3.3V 3.3V 3.3V
3.3V 3.3V 5.0V 5.0V 3.3V
3.3V 5.0V 5.0V 5.0V 5.0V
Table 2 •Boundary Scan Pin Functionality
Program Fuse Blown
(Dedicated Test Mode)
Program Fuse Not Blown
(Flexible Mode)
TCK, TDI, TDO are dedi-
cated BST pins
TCK, TDI, TDO are flexible
and may be used as I/Os
No need for pull-up resistor
for TMS
Use a pull-up resistor of 10k
Ω on TMS