Interface puts FPGA suite on third-party boards

A new universal JTAG interface allows engineers to use the full LiveDesign capabilities of Altium's Nexar system-level FPGA development software with virtually any third-party FPGA development board.

A new universal JTAG interface allows engineers to use the full LiveDesign capabilities of Altium's Nexar system-level FPGA development software with virtually any third-party FPGA development board.

The interface makes it easy for developers to use their existing FPGA development boards to interactively design and debug digital systems, including entire processor-based systems, on an FPGA using Nexar, without the need to specifically purchase a LiveDesign-enabled development board.

The universal JTAG interface attaches to the parallel port of a developer's computer and features a set of flying leads that connect to the target development board.

The interface supports two independent JTAG connections - one to the JTAG programming pins of the target FPGA and the other to four general I/O pins of the FPGA used to establish a secondary "soft" JTAG chain inside the device.

The soft JTAG chain is used by Nexar to communicate in real-time with active design elements such as its processor cores and virtual instruments in the circuit implemented inside the FPGA, facilitating interactive development and debug of the system.

The interface supports both the Xilinx ISE and Altera ByteBlaster cable standards, making it suitable for virtually any FPGA development board on the market.

Altium will provide additional support for specific development boards on its website in the form of downloadable constraint files as well as documentation and example projects to allow engineers to get Nexar up and running immediately with the target development boards.

This will be particularly useful for engineers and FPGA developers looking to evaluate the Nexar software and its LiveDesign capabilities prior to purchase.

The interface can also be used with Protel, Altium's board-level design system, to allow interactive FPGA hardware design on third-party development boards.

"Nexar and its LiveDesign methodology represents a breakthrough in FPGA-based systems design", said Nick Martin, founder and joint CEO of Altium.

"The interactive nature of the LiveDesign process allows engineers to rapidly develop complete systems, including processor-based systems, on a programmable platform in a cost-effective and scalable way".

"With Altium's universal JTAG interface, any engineer can now evaluate and use Nexar, and experience the benefits of the LiveDesign process with their existing FPGA development hardware".

Altium believes that the release of the universal JTAG interface will extend the reach of Nexar, as engineers currently undertaking FPGA development can evaluate and use the full capabilities of the software without the need to acquire significant additional hardware.

The universal JTAG interface is able to be ordered immediately, and shipping is expected to commence from 8th November 2004.

Existing Nexar and Protel licence holders can purchase the cable for the cost of shipping only.

For engineers wishing to evaluate Nexar, the universal JTAG interface will be available as part of the third-party edition of the new LiveDesign Evaluation Kit, which will be priced at US $49 and includes a 30-day, Unified Nexar-Protel 2004 software evaluation licence with unlimited functionality.

The interface will be supplied with all new and upgrade licenses of Protel and Nexar at no extra cost.

Both Nexar and Protel software licences are priced at Eur 7995.

A Unified Nexar-Protel 2004 software licence is also available and is priced at Eur 9995.

Protel 2004 users can upgrade their licence to this system from Eur 2995.

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