Target platform puts IP into hardware emulation

The IP-Xpress target platform enables designs including fixed IP such as microprocessor and DSP subsystems to be verified with Mentor Graphics emulators.

The IP-Xpress target platform enables designs, including fixed IP such as microprocessor and DSP subsystems, to be verified with Mentor Graphics emulators.

This product builds on the industry-proven range of microprocessor and DSP boards and is the latest addition to the Mentor Graphics iSolve value-added solutions for embedded processor verification.

Combined with the VStation or Celaro/CelaroPRO emulators, the IP-Xpress target platform enables virtual system prototyping and extensive software testing of systems before SoC fabrication.

Each IP-Xpress target platform can hold multiple SoC core or standard part devices and multiple platforms can be connected to the emulator, enabling verification of complex multiprocessor systems.

The platform has JTAG connectors to simplify hooking up software debuggers.

Mentor supports a broad range of microprocessors and DSPs from leading providers including ARM, IBM Microelectronics and Texas Instruments.

In a complementary solution to the IP-Xpress target platform, memory models such as DDR SDRAM are also supported.

Commenting on the addition of the IP-Xpress target platform to the Mentor emulation product line, Jean-Francois Kah, Product Marketing Director at Mentor Graphics said, "The direct connection of fixed IP, such as the TI C6416 DSP, means that our customers can execute application software, controlled through standard software debug tools, while full visibility of the ASIC or SoC is available from the emulator.

This is a significant boost to verification productivity".

The introduction of the IP-Xpress target platform for VStation coincides with newly developed ARM926EJ-S core, ARM946E-S core and ARM966E-S core models.

These latest additions ensure Mentor Graphics iSolve solutions continuing to offer industry-leading processor models to customers for both the VStation and the CelaroPRO systems.

Regarding the latest ARM additions to Mentor Graphics IP-Xpress range, Mark Snook, Development Manager at ARM said, "The addition of ARM9 family processors into the IP-Xpress target platform utilises our recently announced Integrator Logic Tile component.

This provides a flexible and secure means of supplying preverified hardware IP core models and we have been pleased to work closely with Mentor Graphics to ensure the availability of ARM models to our mutual customers".

The iSolve IP-Xpress target platform backed by Mentor's experienced verification solutions team, supports a comprehensive line of IP cores in 'off-the-shelf' solutions, including the ARM7DTMIR core, ARM720T core, ARM920T core, ARM940T core, TI DSP C62x, TI DSP C64x and IBM PowerPC 405 GP.

Mentor Graphics iSolve products provide a range of hardware and software application solutions for VStation and Celaro/CelaroPRO emulators.

Other iSolve products include speed-bridges for PCI and PCI Express buses; frame-buffers for transmitting/receiving video streams; DDR and SDRAM models; and dedicated transaction-based comodelling solutions.

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