Processors boost performance and scalability

LynuxWorks' BlueCat Linux v2.6 supports MicroBlaze processor as well as the PowerPC 405 processor embedded in Virtex-4 FX devices.

Xilinx embedded processing solutions provide design teams with enhanced system level performance, expanded flexibility and increased design environment productivity.

Anchored by an enhanced 32-128 bit processor local bus (PLB), a component of the IBM CoreConnect bus standard, the platform delivers increased performance and scalability for future performance and feature requirements from Xilinx.

The MicroBlaze 32bit processor now includes the industry's only configurable memory management unit (MMU) that enables commercial-grade operating system (OS) support and is supported by a host of upgraded IP and design tools delivered with the embedded development kit (EDK) version 9.2.

In support of the full memory management capabilities, LynuxWorks' BlueCat Linux v2.6 supports MicroBlaze processor as well as the PowerPC 405 processor embedded in Virtex-4 FX devices.

Robert Day, Vice President of Marketing at LynuxWorks said "By focusing on a combination of hard and soft processor and IP cores, Xilinx delivers a no-compromise solution with flexibility and performance required in a wide-range of markets including military and aerospace, industrial and consumer areas".

Version 7 of the MicroBlaze processor builds upon previous versions while maintaining instruction set backward compatibility.

With the new MMU, designers can use commercial-grade embedded operating systems when implementing their designs in both the Spartan family of low-cost FPGAs for high-volume applications, as well as the high-performance Virtex family.

To enhance system performance in designs targeting Virtex devices optimised for embedded applications, a direct interface to the enhanced PLB is included to extend peripheral re-use with the on-board PowerPC processor.

Xilinx has also included new instructions to boost performance of the configurable MicroBlaze processor's tightly-coupled Floating Point Unit.

All of these new features are pre-built, verified and ready to use with configuration options that enable developers to customise the processor features as required.

Enhancements to the PLB architecture enable scaling from 32, 64 and 128bit interfaces to give designers more flexibility and performance that can be applied to current system designs while providing plenty of headroom for future designs.

The PLB can also be configured for both shared and point-to-point connections to memory controllers, enabling customers to make the right design tradeoffs based on area, performance or future requirements.

The higher performance and more flexible interconnect also supports full duplex DMA engines and a simpler bus hierarchy for easier IP core design.

Xilinx' Platform Studio (XPS) provides a common, fully integrated hardware/software development environment that supports the complete range of Xilinx possessing solutions.

Included in the EDK, the scalable XPS enables designers to easily develop, integrate and debug their entire embedded system.

The EDK is a complete embedded development solution that includes the XPS tool suite, the MicroBlaze processor, a library of peripheral IP cores, an integrated software development environment based on the Eclipse framework, GNU compiler, debugger and other tools for a wide range of applications.

Xilinx is able to deliver development kits, reference designs and other development resources that meet the specific needs of developers working on automotive electronic systems.

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