Serial Flash is ideal match for FPGA applications

NexFlash spiFlash serial Flash memories have been qualified for use with Xilinx's new SpartanT-3E field-programmable gate array (FPGA) family.

NexFlash spiFlash serial Flash memories have been qualified for use with Xilinx's new Spartan-3E field-programmable gate array (FPGA) family.

Featuring the popular Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), the spiFlash family offers Spartan-3E users a pin-, space- and cost-efficient alternative to ordinary FPGA configuration solutions.

Traditionally, FPGA configuration at power-up has been handled by dedicated configuration programmable read-only memories (PROMs), and in some cases by parallel-NOR Flash or other system-level solutions.

These existing configuration options can have a significant impact on overall cost, board space and input/output (I/O) complexity of the total FPGA solution.

To expand the range of FPGA configuration options, Xilinx recently introduced the new Spartan-3E FPGA family with support for industry-standard serial Flash such as spiFlash memories from NexFlash.

This development minimises space and I/O usage, and helps further reduce costs to effectively compete with ASICs in price-sensitive volume applications.

"The Spartan-3E family is focused on reducing unit and overall system costs by offering a wide range of platform features at extremely low price points", said Babak Hedayati, Senior Director of Product Solutions Marketing at Xilinx.

"With the spiFlash family, NexFlash offers a cost-effective, pin- and space-saving complement to our Spartan-3E line of FPGA devices, which provides designers with a more efficient configuration solution".

"Our spiFlash family is an ideal match for Spartan-3E FPGAs", said Robin Jigour, Vice President of Marketing at NexFlash.

"We look forward to supporting the configuration requirements of Xilinx customers as the Spartan-3E family takes a foothold in the FPGA market".

SpiFlash memories interface with the Spartan-3E FPGAs through the 4-pin SPI interface that is ready for FPGA configuration within ten microseconds after power-up.

The spiFlash family offers a broad range of densities from 1 to 32Mbit that will more than cover the configuration requirements of the Spartan-3E family.

Additional memory can be used for cascading multiple FPGAs, storing user data or downloading Xilinx MicroBlaze processor code to RAM.

NexFlash offers densities up to 16Mbit in space-saving eight-pin SOIC packages, allowing an easy migration path across densities and using less than 25% of the space required for parallel Flash.

All spiFlash products meet industrial temperature operation, are available in green RoHS-compliant packages and are supported by popular third-party PROM programmers.

An spiFlash memory to Spartan-3E FPGA crossreference guide is available on the NexFlash website.

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