Xilinx FPGA Development Platforms at SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010 Accelerate Industrial Systems Designs Enabling Enhanced Performance and Connectivity

NUREMBERG, Germany, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010  -- Xilinx, Inc. (Nasdaq: XLNX) today announced at SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010 three new industrial Targeted Design Platforms based on the low-cost Spartan®-6 FPGA family, which will help engineers increase performance and reduce time to market for PROFINET real time networking, advanced motor control, and GigE Vision industrial imaging applications.

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"Xilinx's Targeted Development Platforms, including the latest Spartan-6 FPGA-based solutions unveiled today at SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010, enable customers to realize system-on-chip solutions delivering the deterministic performance, highly power efficient, high precision and advanced functionality that today's industrial end users demand," said Joe Mallett, senior product manager, Xilinx Industrial, Scientific And Medical Group.

At the heart of the three new platforms, the Spartan-6 FPGA provides the flexible interfaces and parallel processing performance needed to manage advanced and legacy communication protocols, execute complex high-bandwidth motor-control algorithms, or handle gigabit-speed video. Xilinx's Targeted Design Platforms and comprehensive design ecosystem assemble the development boards, kits, IP cores, tools, and silicon that enable designers to leapfrog past the design basics to focus on adding unique value.

PROFINET Targeted Design Platform: Comprised of programmable hardware, third-party software from alliance partner Softing, and a complete reference design, this platform reduces the time and resources needed for OEMs and engineers to produce fully functioning designs. The included daughter card supports multiple real-time industrial Ethernet protocols and legacy serial connectivity, as well as Xilinx ISE® Design Suite: Embedded Edition. "The Xilinx Targeted Design Platform provides well defined hardware enabling us to deliver robust and fully developed IP, which customers can use straight from the box and exploit to its full performance potential," explained Frank Iwanitz, Ethernet Business Development Manager of Softing.

Targeted Design Platform for motor control: Combining the Spartan-6 SP605 Evaluation Kit with the NetMot FMC board, IP from QDeSys, and industrial networking IP from Bosch and Beckhoff, this platform provides all the building blocks needed to begin prototyping an intelligent drive control system. Moreover, development can begin immediately, eliminating the time traditionally needed to bring up prototype hardware. The Spartan-6 FPGA is able to host dedicated networking and motor control IP blocks operating alongside a MicroBlaze™ processor running application-specific software. MicroBlaze is a 32-bit customisable processor that can be implemented fully in the FPGA fabric using Xilinx soft IP. Customers starting with this platform can integrate multiple control and communication functions on a single FPGA board, while retaining the flexibility to enhance performance and connectivity as future system demands evolve.

GigE Vision Targeted Design Platform: This platform helps designers apply the GigE Vision standard for high-speed video transport in machine vision applications. GigE Vision combines Gigabit Ethernet transport with enhancements delivering robust packet handling and real-time performance. The demonstration at the Xilinx booth will highlight supporting IP developed by Sensor-Image, enabling customers to complete their solutions quickly. Werner Feith, General Manager of Sensor-Image said, "Our software IP fits perfectly with the Xilinx third-party ecosystem. Customers can rely on properly integrated hardware, software and firmware, which delivers tremendous value to the product realization process."

Through its selection of Targeted Design Platforms, hardware, and software IP developed in conjunction with Xilinx Alliance Members specializing in industrial control and networking, Xilinx empowers its customers to deliver competitively priced SoC solutions delivering a performance edge over alternatives in the marketplace. A rich selection of solutions is available, supporting the major standards and protocols used in the industrial space. For further information visit http://www.xilinx.com/esp/ind_sci_med/index.htm.

Availability

PROFINET Targeted Design Platform, Targeted Design Platform for motor control and GigE Vision Targeted Design Platform are available now.

Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGAs

Spartan-6 FPGAs are designed for cost-sensitive applications requiring high-speed connectivity and low-power operation with embedded serial transceivers, advanced power management, and proven 45-nanometer architecture. These devices provide a rich mix of integrated system features, including memory controllers, digital signal processing, and Endpoint block for PCIe®, as well as RoHS-compliant lead-free package options for developing 'greener' electronics products. For more information about Spartan FPGAs, visit: http://www.xilinx.com/spartan6.

About Xilinx

Xilinx is the worldwide leader in complete programmable logic solutions. For more information, visit http://www.xilinx.com/.

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SOURCE Xilinx, Inc.