Budget intro to C-based system-level design

A new C synthesis tool package provides a low-cost entry point into C-based system-level design.

A new C synthesis tool package provides a low-cost entry point into C-based system-level design.

The Celoxica PDP platform developer's package allows engineers to target C algorithms to off-the-shelf development boards or evaluate C-based design methodologies.

The PDP provides cycle-accurate design simulation and C-based synthesis to FPGA logic and is an entry-level version of Celoxica's DK Design Suite of system design tools.

PDP also includes a board support package for targeting designs to one of several supported development boards.

"The software-compiled system design methodology is the absolute fastest way to design and implement complex systems.

This package gives designers a way to try C-based design with no risk", said Jeff Jussel, Vice President of Marketing at Celoxica.

"The tool quickly transforms the high-level design models into FPGA hardware and proves the quality of that implementation in a real system prototype".

Celoxica tools specialise in compiling C-based languages directly to FPGA hardware.

Using a high-level language approach, Celoxica provides the fastest path from system concept to chip implementation.

And by enabling codesign and coverification, Celoxica's methodology improves quality of design as well as design productivity.

In addition to simulation and synthesis, the PDP software includes an easy to use integrated development environment user interface and a board support package API.

Processor support packages for ARM, MicroBlaze, NIOS and PowerPC processors are also available as options to the PDP software.

The package can also be upgraded to the DK Design Suite for users who want other advanced features for system design and coverification.

With PDP, board support packages are available for the Celoxica RC200 and RC2000 development boards and for the Altera NIOS development board.

The RC200/RC2000 development boards include a Xilinx Virtex-II FPGA and provide environments for the evaluation and development of high performance FPGA based applications.

The RC200 programmable SoC board connects to the development software via a built-in 10/100 Ethernet port and can be used for a wide variety of prototyping systems.

The RC2000 is a PCI board and is used for testing and acceleration of algorithms in hardware.

The PDP sells for $1999 and may be purchased with an FPGA development board.

Both the board and design software are available immediately.

This combined solution offers a complete low-cost platform for C-based design development and prototyping.

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