S2C equips Virtex logic module with USB-enabled runtime control

S2C Inc. has released its third-generation rapid SoC prototyping tool, the Dual Virtex-5 TAI Logic Module equipped with two Xilinx LX series Virtex-5 FPGAs, which supplies up to 6.6 million ASIC gates of capacity.

The new module features the ability to run TAI logic module's key functions from PC via an on-board USB interface. Users can also generate clocks, download to FPGA and self-test hardware through the TAI Player runtime software shipped with TAI logic module.

Additional new features include on-board DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 4Gbytes of memory, three on-board programmable clock generators running from 0.5 to 200MHz, and equal length I/O for optimal performance with user target systems. The new Virtex-5 series TAI logic module also maintains an identical architecture with the previous Virtex-4 generation of TAI logic module, allowing existing customers to re-use their daughter boards. S2C also provides numerous off-the-shelf accessory modules to accelerate customers' construction of FPGA prototypes for their applications.

"We chose S2C's Virtex-5 series TAI logic module for design verification and early software development based on our success in using their earlier Virtex-4 series product line," says Ming-Qiang Cheng, engineering manager at Spreadtrum Communications "Compared to building FPGA prototypes in-house, adopting an established off-the-shelf FPGA platform let our engineers concentrate on what they do best - chip design research and development."

"Aside from a stable prototyping environment, our customers have indicated ease-of-use as a crucial element in their selection of FPGA tools, so we've worked hard to improve the level of integration between our hardware and software offerings," noted Mon-Ren Chene, chief technology officer of S2C. "Our TAI Player software has been upgraded and fully supports the Virtex-5 TAI logic module to give designers greater control over the design flow process, from synthesis partitioning and RTL-level probe setup to FPGA place-and-route."

The Virtex-5 series of prototyping modules can be stacked for additional capacity and is fully backward compatible with the earlier generation Virtex-4 TAI logic module.

S2C is one of the exhibitors in the upcoming IIC-China 2008.