Design tools cover FPGAs, programmable logic

26th May 2017

Mick Elliott

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Quartus II, Vivado and ModelSim design tools and the development of designs using VHDL are at the heart of LDD Technology’s electronic design services. The company has extensive FPGA and programmable logic design expertise and in-depth knowledge of devices from major semiconductor manufacturers including Altera and Xilinx.

Recent designs delivered by LDD include multi-processor, Compact PCI board containing six Statix IV devices, multiple FPGA Board performing complex real time processing (sonar processor), memory card interfaces (SD card and CompactFlash) and a Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Many of the solutions developed by LDD involve the use of NIOS II embedded processors and/or IP cores.

“Many software designers are familiar with programming in straight-forward “linear” languages such as C,” says Malcolm Locke, Managing Director of LDD Technologies. “Programming in VHDL, where many processes are happening in parallel, is significantly more complex as the time “dimension” needs to be carefully managed to ensure operations are completed in the correct sequence.”

System designers are increasing their use of FPGAs and other complex processors to multiply the activities being carried out by individual devices, simplify and cost reduce manufacture and reduce the size of end products.

The use of FPGAs is growing rapidly as costs reduce and power requirements decrease.

“It’s our experience” continues Locke “that an FPGA may be selected for a design by a hardware manufacturer who then has to find experienced programming expertise or run the risk of in-house trial-and-error programming which can be costly and delay end product introduction. Individual projects rarely justify the expense of recruiting a highly skilled programmer and using short term contractors has the inherent dangers of lack of continuity and long term support. LDD has the experience to provide extensive knowledge of programmable logic, input into design for manufacture, cost effective programming and long term support.”