Readers of the Samtec blog know that FPGAs offer the most flexible electronics development platform in the world. Diverse applications ranging from machine learning and embedded vision to 5G wireless and cloud computing leverage the configurability and programmability of FPGAs to scale I/O, computing and DSP functionality.
FPGAs are also frequently used in next-generation ASIC development projects. FPGAs allow for fast and accurate ASIC modeling and verification with accelerated software and firmware development. They also reduce space and power requirements while reducing ASIC development risk.
Scalable ASIC Development Tools
ASICs by their nature are not one size fits all. Small Small FPGAs target smaller ASIC development projects. Large FPGAs target larger ASIC development projects.
The engineers behind proFPGA – a scalable ASIC Development solution provider based in Bruckmühl, Germany – have developed the proFPGA family of FPGA motherboards, modules and systems,
The proFPGA system offers a complete, scalable and modular platform ideally suited to the high-performance demands of FPGA-based ASIC Prototyping.
Their proFPGA motherboards – consisting of proFPGA uno, proFPGA duo and proFPGA quad – serve as the foundation of the system. Each motherboard supports one or more FPGA modules offering the ultimate flexibility for system prototyping.
The proFPGA FPGA Modules support industry-leading FPGA solutions (Xilinx® Virtex® UltraScale™/UltraScale+™, Virtex® 7, Kintex®, Zynq™ and Intel® Stratix®) that easily plug into any one of the motherboard solutions.
VITA 57.1 FMC Connector Options
The proFPGA solutions leverage industry-standard VITA 57.1 FMC interconnect options. The FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) was developed and ratified by a consortium of FPGA vendors and end-user members of the VITA 57 working group.
FMC is an ANSI standard which defines a compact electro-mechanical expansion interface for a daughter card to an FPGA baseboard or another device with reconfigurable I/O capability.
The FMC Standard is essential for FPGA vendors making baseboards and comprehensive development kits to enable designers to accelerate their application development.
FMC products are continually introduced by Supplier companies for targeted market specific applications in industries such as Datacom, Broadcast, Aerospace/Defense, Industrial and Instrumentation.
VITA 57.1 FMC Connectors – FPGA Baseboard Side Connector
- HPC Connector, 400 I/O, female – ASP-184329-01
- LPC Connector, 160 I/O, female – ASP-186899-01
VITA 57.1 FMC Connectors – Mezzanine Card Side Connector
- HPC Connector, 400 I/O, male, 10mm – ASP-134488-01
- HPC Connector, 400 I/O, male, 8.5mm – ASP-134602-01
- LPC Connector, 160 I/O, male, 10mm – ASP-134604-01
- LPC Connector, 160 I/O, male, 8.5mm – ASP-134606-01
The Application Specific Product (ASP) versions of SEARAY™ adopted by VITA 57.1 and support the growing FMC ecosystem in applications as diverse as high-speed ADCs and DACs, next-generation RF connectivity, high-speed serial memory and high-density fiber optics.
For more information on the SEARAY™ High-Density Open Pin Field Arrays, please contact our technical experts at searay@samtec.com or click on the following links:
