Tools support novel programmable power managers

PAC-Designer Version 2.0 software supports the recently announced ispPAC Power Manager series of devices from Lattice Semiconductor.

PAC-Designer Version 2.0 software supports the recently announced ispPAC Power Manager series of devices from Lattice Semiconductor.

New features added to this version, including the LogiBuilder design entry and waveform simulator modules, greatly simplify the implementation of power supply management functions on a printed circuit board when using the ispPAC Power1208 and ispPAC Power604 mixed-signal power management devices.

PAC-Designer's new LogiBuilder feature enables the design engineer to completely define the circuit board's power management requirements (power supply sequencing, monitoring, and generation of supervisory signals) using five basic intuitive point-and-click instructions.

The resulting easy-to-understand program is then compiled for the CPLD section of the ispPAC device.

Design engineers can then quickly verify the LogiBuilder program using the digital waveform simulator.

In-system programming of the ispPAC device via its boundary scan port is supported to complete the concept-to-silicon cycle quickly and efficiently.

The hierarchical GUI of the PAC-Designer provides pull-down menus in the analog interfacing section that control power supply monitoring functions as well as the turn-on ramp-rate of the power FET output drivers.

The software allows the user to specify analogue input thresholds from 1 to 5.75V for each of the ispPAC device's analogue inputs by selecting one of 192 levels from a pull down menu.

Similarly, the analogue FET driver outputs can have their maximum output voltage (from 8 to 12V) and gate charging ramp rate specified from another menu.

"Lattice continues to bring the best programmable solutions to the market", said Stan Kopec, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Lattice.

"For the first time, complex power management challenges precipitated by modern multi-voltage components can be addressed easily in software and silicon with confidence.

The flexibility provided by the integration and programmability of the ispPAC devices supports an easy-to-use, standard approach for the design of power management functions for any printed circuit board or system".

Lattice's ispPAC Power Manager devices, the industry's first mixed-signal programmable logic devices (PLDs), were introduced in January 2003.

Featuring in-system programmable analogue and logic blocks, the new devices provide optimised power supply management functions critical to the operation of today's multiple power supply electronic systems and provide unique programmable control solutions within the $12 billion power semiconductor market.

Through a combination of programmable logic, voltage comparators, references, and high voltage FET drivers, the devices support single-chip programmable power supply sequencing and monitoring.

Lattice's PAC-Designer Version 2.0 software for the PC is available for download from the Lattice website.

In addition to supporting the newest Power1208 and Power604 devices, it also supports Lattice's five other production ispPAC devices.

Users can get a free 6 month licence for PAC-Designer evaluation.

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