{"id":27735,"date":"2020-01-14T06:19:36","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T14:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.digilentinc.com\/?p=27735"},"modified":"2020-12-21T11:17:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T19:17:23","slug":"fpgas-just-got-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/fpgas-just-got-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"FPGAs Just Got Easier"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is introducing an important new product, the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2spDBoa\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2spDBoa\">\u00a0Z7<\/a>, featuring a new high-speed I\/O expansion scheme compatible with the new <a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/the-syzygy-origin-story\/\">SYZYGY<\/a> standard. The\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Z7 represents just the beginning of a new family of products that will all feature three elements, each key to the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0platform:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a small-form factor host board featuring a Xilinx FPGA or System-on-Chip (SoC)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">modular and high-speed expansion using\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent\u2019s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> new SYZYGY-compatible <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/30sfTUZ\">Zmod ADC<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/zmod-dac-1411-syzygy-compatible-dual-channel-14-bit-digital-to-analog-converter-module\/\">Zmod DAC<\/a><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/zmod-dac-1411-syzygy-compatible-dual-channel-14-bit-digital-to-analog-converter-module\/\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a software framework and development environment that retains the flexibility and performance of the underlying technology yet extends it to a much larger audience of scientists and engineers through high-level API\u2019s and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">resources<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to easily get started<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">FPGA-based embedded systems are extremely flexible and powerful, but the development process typically requires specialized knowledge and skills in a proprietary development environment. This limits the number of developers capable (and\/or willing) to consider these devices in favor of more conventional microprocessor-based systems even though an FPGA might offer a much better solution. One of our aims with the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">new\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0platform is to empower a much wider range of engineers and scientists with the advantages of an FPGA-based embedded system \u2013 specifically for systems that employ high-speed analog inputs and\/or outputs where real-time signal processing is critical. These requirements are often found in high-growth applications in edge-computing, medical, instrumentation<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and communications applications where researchers and engineers are pushing the envelope in speed, resolution,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">compute power<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and portability. Solving these competing requirements is a challenge well suited to the unique capabilities of FPGA-based embedded systems.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The two major issues that the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0platform overcomes are 1) giving\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">users<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the ability to match the best I\/O for their application in a simple and cost-effective way, and 2) abstracting the complexity of interfacing this specialized I\/O to the FPGA and processor resources needed to put that I\/O to work.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent\u2019s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0new\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zmods<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zmod<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0DAC and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zmod<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0ADC) make it easy to add the right I\/O subsystem in the form of plug-n-play modules, rather than relying on our best guess at a user\u2019s end application. The modules conform to Opal Kelly\u2019s open SYZYGY standard, making it possible for multiple vendors, including silicon suppliers, to put their devices on this form-factor \u2013 something we are actively encouraging.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0plans to offer many new\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zmods<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0in the coming months and years<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0but we hope to see others join as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Plugging a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zmod<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0or two into a base board is easy and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">takes only\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">seconds<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0but<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0getting this type of module up and running could take weeks of low-level coding with traditional hardware design workflows. Solving this problem is the job of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent\u2019s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0software framework, which provides the FPGA IP and a common hardware abstraction layer \u2013 think how a software driver for a printer might work \u2013 that exposes a straightforward API to the user. All\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0supplied\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zmods<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0will ship with the required IP to plug into this framework, enabling users to easily swap out modules\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(perhaps with different ADC speeds\/resolutions)<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0while minimizing code updates, dramatically reducing the time to evaluate silicon or develop a prototype.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cre<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ting\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">high-quality development boards that feature <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xilinx.com\/products\/silicon-devices\/fpga.html\">Xilinx FPGAs<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xilinx.com\/products\/silicon-devices\/soc.html\">SoCs<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">has<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">always been\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">part of our core business<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Merging\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digilent\u2019s\u00a0FPGA design experience with our expertise in instrumentation is\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">new direction\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and should be exciting news for engineers. The\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eclypse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0platform promises to m<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">atch\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the power of the latest FPGA and SoC devices with the latest converter technology, enabling and accelerating many new and exciting applications to solve the world\u2019s greatest engineering challenges.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class='watch-action'><div class='watch-position align-left'><div class='action-like'><a class='lbg-style6 like-27735 jlk' data-task='like' data-post_id='27735' data-nonce='8217331f26' rel='nofollow'><img src='https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post-pro\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Like' \/><span class='lc-27735 lc'>+6<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class='action-unlike'><a class='unlbg-style6 unlike-27735 jlk' data-task='unlike' data-post_id='27735' data-nonce='8217331f26' rel='nofollow'><img src='https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post-pro\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Unlike' \/><span class='unlc-27735 unlc'>0<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div> <div class='status-27735 status align-left'><\/div><\/div><div class='wti-clear'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digilent is introducing an important new product, the Eclypse\u00a0Z7, featuring a new high-speed I\/O expansion scheme compatible with the new SYZYGY standard. The\u00a0Eclypse\u00a0Z7 represents just the beginning of a new &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":27741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,58],"tags":[2059,1059,156],"ppma_author":[4490],"class_list":["post-27735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-expansion-modules","category-fpga","category-from-our-president","tag-embedded","tag-measurement","tag-new-product-2"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Eclypse-obl-populated-2000.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":4490,"user_id":38,"is_guest":0,"slug":"steve-johnson","display_name":"Steve Johnson","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/569a72531aa266d65abf3a7b22c1c12183ad61da9a60ea9fef13cf5d41ce5734?s=96&d=mm&r=g","1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":"","9":"","10":""}],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27735"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=27735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}