Embedded Systems Design Europe - March 2008 - (Page 25)

feature connections through a simple GUI. Having designed the processor, users then generate and export to the FPGA layout tool. The processor may only be part of the FPGA design. The design may include additional glue logic or interfaces that aren’t controlled by the processor. Using a simple block design tool, users can drop in the processor and any additional blocks to create a single top-level design for synthesis. The design then follows a standard FPGA ﬂow: synthesis, place and route, timing analysis, and so forth. Ideally, the Cortex-M1 processor should be delivered with a custom layout from the silicon vendor, indicating that timing analysis and optimization have been done. This ensures maximum performance in a minimum footprint. The layout should be customized to the device you plan to use. From here, the custom processor can be programmed to the PSC. BOARD OPTIONS The choice of development environment is important. Buying a “demo kit” usually means you can get the design or board to do what the supplier intended. What you really want is to convince yourself that both the technology and your design have the ability and functional accuracy to eliminate the need to build custom prototypes – or at least skip the ﬁrst round of prototyping. Look for a board that has the interfaces built-in, and has enough I/O available with connectors to work with your regular platform or peripheral board. In addition, key components, such as crystals that can switch out, increase the board’s usability as a true prototyping environment. You should also be able to program and debug on the development platform. Software implementation is similar to a standalone processor. The tool that builds the processor should export the appropriate ﬁles required by the compiler to create the application. Existing functions can be exported and enable the ability to work from www.embedded.com/europe | embedded systems design europe | MARCH 2008 a library of functions to control the peripherals. Custom code can then be added on top of this. For many processors, including Cortex-M1, the GNU environment offers free tools including compilers and debuggers. However, extra money does get you more mileage. Generally, the more expensive compilers will provide either better performance or less code space. Still, free compilers will get you a functionally accurate design and a long way through prototyping. If you’re working with a lot of library functions, the functions should already be optimized, eliminating the need for expensive compilers. Debug is the next phase of design. With a soft processor, the ability to debug both the hardware and software is important. Again, a pre-optimized version of the processor helps, as processor debug won’t be necessary. Some tools are designed to coexist, such as ModelSim, which runs the hardware, and GNU, which runs the processor application. It’s best to get these tools from your silicon supplier, because the PSC is unique and other debug tools won’t be set up to handle the architecture. Also, with a standard ARM processor, existing ARM debug tools support debug of the processor application, but not any additional FPGA logic. All of the methods and strategies described apply to intelligent power control, whether the application is a simple handheld portable device or for a multiserver rack system. The desire to conserve energy and cost will continue to drive electronics in this direction, while also driving designers to meet these challenges for years to come. Wendy Lockhart is a principal engineer at Actel. She holds a master’s degree in electronics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Lockhart can be reached at wendy.lockhart@actel.com. 25 022-023-024-025_EETE.indd 25 5/03/08 14:10:26 http://www.dvsinc.com http://www.dvsinc.com http://www.embedded.com/europe

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Embedded Systems Design Europe - March 2008 Distributors to Increase Embedded Focus Kontron and Quanta to Join Forces Coverity Raises $22m as European Business Booms Help is at Hand for Europe's Industrial Control Developers Milestones in Embedded Systems Microsoft is Recruiting for Embedded Center in Aachen European Designers to Win Cash for Green Designs Duo Work on Smaller Form Factor Europe Invests in Real-Time Java for Multicore Systems Curtiss-Wright Buys Pentland Systems Designing DSP-Based Motor Control Using Fuzzy Logic Lower the Cost of Intelligent Power Control with FPGAs Virtualizing Embedded Linux Back to the Future: Manchester Encoding Is Multicore Hype or Reality New Products Advertising Contacts

Embedded Systems Design Europe - March 2008

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