Hardware programmer supports Actel's flash FPGAs

Actel has launched Flashpro4, a hardware programmer supporting the company's flash FPGAs, which include the Igloo series, the Proasic3 series, the Smartfusion series and the Actel Fusion series.

Flashpro4 also supports the FPGA embedded software program and debug managed by Actel's Softconsole integrated design environment (IDE) for embedded processors.

Flashpro4 offers high-performance communication through the use of USB 2.0 and is high-speed compliant for full use of the 480Mbps bandwidth.

For Igloo nano 1.2V-core FPGAs, 1.2V programming is supported.

Wendy Lockhart, senior manager of design solutions at Actel, said: 'Flashpro4 provides our flash FPGA customers with the latest hardware technology for performing both hardware design implementation and software program implementation for embedded processor designs.

'In addition, it provides a common approach for facilitating FPGA debug for tools such as Synopsys Identify RTL debugger and Actel's on-chip debug, plus Softconsole, Actel's embedded software IDE.

'It is also low enough in cost that our customers can include it with their end systems, so their customers and support personnel can readily perform in-system programming updates in the field,' she added.

Flashpro4 provides programming for hardware design for all current Actel flash FPGAs and embedded software design and debug for embedded Arm Cortex-M3, Cortex-M1, 8051s and future embedded processor designs.

The programmer also features a common interface for hardware and software debug for Synopsys Identify, Actel on-chip debug and the Actel Softconsole embedded software IDE.

Other features include: low-cost in-system programming (ISP) hardware for a single FPGA or chain of Actel flash FPGAs; support for 1.2V programming for Actel Igloo nano 1.2V-core FPGAs; and backward compatibility with the previous Flashpro3 programmer.

Actel's Flashpro4 programmer is now available for USD49 (GBP31).

The kit includes a USB cable, a ribbon cable with a 10-pin JTAG connector and a quick-start card.

The Flashpro software is available for free, either standalone or as part of all Actel Libero IDE versions.

Back to top