Revolutionary FPGA Real-Time Logic Debug Technology from Xilinx Slashes Verification Times by up to 50%

ChipScope Pro 6.2i with new ATC2 core supporting Agilent Technologies’ FPGA Dynamic Probe results in unique debug capability not available using ASICS

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 1, 2004 — Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) today announced the release of ChipScope Pro 6.2i, the latest version of its real-time debug and verification software for FPGA design. ChipScope Pro 6.2i takes advantage of the reprogrammable nature of Xilinx FPGAs to deliver flexibility and speed during the logic and embedded systems debug phase of a design – capability that is unavailable in conventional ASIC technology and PLD offerings. One of the key capabilities in ChipScope Pro 6.2i is the addition of the second generation Agilent Trace Core (ATC2), which links Xilinx ChipScope Pro 6.2i to Agilent’s 16900, 1690, and 1680 series logic analyzers. This unique measurement collaboration results in a faster and more effective way to use logic analysis to debug FPGA-based systems.

The ATC2 core included with ChipScope Pro 6.2i, enables engineers to capture and analyze on-chip FPGA signals directly with an Agilent logic analyzer. For the first time engineers can configure their FPGA, probe internal FPGA signals at system speed, and correlate them to signals captured elsewhere on the board, using their Agilent logic analyzer and a Xilinx programming cable.

“The tool integration unveiled today between Xilinx and Agilent Technologies will revolutionize the way engineers approach logic verification,” said Rich Sevcik, executive vice president of FPGA Products at Xilinx. “ChipScope Pro combined with FPGA Dynamic Probe has the potential to slash verification times by up to 50%, improving the most time-consuming and costly part of logic design.”

A new approach to Logic Validation
With the combination of ChipScope Pro 6.2i and FPGA Dynamic Probe, users of Xilinx FPGAs can now enjoy significant productivity advances in logic validation. ChipScope Pro tools allow engineers to insert ATC2 cores into their FPGA during the design phase, or insert cores to a post-synthesized design netlist. Once in the FPGA, the ATC2 provides logic analysis measurement access on any internal FPGA signal. Additionally with a mouse click, an engineer can dynamically change what signals are measured with no design changes or recompile required, and without having to change the timing of the design. Signal names from the FPGA are automatically updated in the logic analyzer each time a new measurement is made - automating a time-consuming and often error-prone step in system verification.

The new configurable ATC2 core uses up to 32 signal banks, with each signal bank able to support up to 128 signals. With optional 2X pin compression, designers can access up to 8192 internal FPGA signals in real-time. The Xilinx programming cable then provides the communication link between an Agilent logic analyzer running the FPGA Dynamic Probe application and the ATC2 core. All Windows-based Agilent logic analyzers support the application including the new 16900 series, and the 1690, and 1680 series.

“New system applications now being developed and implemented in Xilinx FPGAs have driven demand for a more advanced debug and validation methods,” said Ron Nersesian, general manager of Agilent’s Design Validation Division. “Agilent is pleased to partner with Xilinx to provide our customers with innovative and robust tools.”

ChipScope Pro – The standard in real-time verification
ChipScope Pro is the premier real-time, on-chip debug and verification system available for logic design. ChipScope Pro allows the engineer to insert low-profile, performance optimized, software debug cores (ILA, IBA, and ATC2) into their design or netlist to capture either logic or embedded processor bus signals. The user can then define trigger conditions and capture signal activity on-chip, operating at system speeds, while the FPGA is interacting with the rest of the system. ChipScope Pro also allows the user to place virtual inputs and outputs to simulate design stimulus and capture and display output to reflect activity.

In addition to providing on-chip debug capabilities for FPGA logic designs, ChipScope Pro tools support embedded processor with the ability to monitor the IBM CoreConnect bus structures used by both the IBM PowerPC 405 in Virtex-II Pro™ FPGAs and the Xilinx MicroBlaze soft processor core. A full-featured evaluation version of ChipScope Pro is now included as part of every Xilinx EDK embedded design kit. New integration between ChipScope Pro and EDK allow embedded software engineers to directly insert IBA bus analysis cores. The IBA core provides system bus access and visibility to transactions that occur between the embedded processor and peripheral logic, and supports PowerPC run-time control and instruction trace from 3rd party tools.
No other debug methodology for FPGAs or conventional ASICs can match the flexibility and performance of ChipScope Pro in gaining full visibility into the combined hardware/software operation of today’s advanced platform FPGAs.

Price, evaluation version, platform and availability
ChipScope Pro is optional verification software that interfaces directly to Xilinx ISE design software and can be purchased directly from Xilinx.com or local Xilinx sales contact. ChipScope Pro supports all Xilinx FPGAs including the industry-leading Virtex-II Pro™ and Spartan™–3 families. ChipScope Pro runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Solaris. A free downloadable 60-day evaluation version is also available at Xilinx.com. All in-maintenance ChipScope Pro customers will begin receiving ChipScope Pro 6.2i immediately for free. For more details on how ChipScope Pro slashes design verification times go to www.xilinx.com/chipscopepro. For more information on Agilent Technologies and FPGA Dynamic Probe go to www.agilent.com/find/FPGA.

About Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) is the worldwide leader of programmable logic solutions. Additional information about Xilinx is available at www.xilinx.com.

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