Fast Flash Programming for Microsemi FPGAs

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Newly released support for Microsemi FPGAs and SoCs on ASSET InterTech’s ScanWorks can dramatically decrease programming times for SPI flash memory devices to the point where inline programming on the assembly line will not disrupt the manufacturing beat rate. ASSET InterTech is a leading supplier of JTAG-based software and hardware debug, validation and test tools. ScanWorks, one of the company’s flagship product lines, is a fast test and programming platform.

The Microsemi product families now supported by ScanWorks’ FPGA-based Fast Flash Programming (FFP) tool include IGLOO2 and PolarFire FPGAs and the SmartFusion2 FPGA/SoCs.

“With our ScanWorks FFP tool, SPI programming speeds are limited only by the speed of the FPGA. Other techniques might be limited by the speed of the JTAG interface or the fastest device on the JTAG chain,” said Larry Osborn, product manager for ScanWorks. “We compared our FFP tool with using the JTAG chain to load a 100-megabyte file into flash and FFP was 91-times faster.”

Significantly faster flash programming times can eliminate some of the bottlenecks in system manufacturing and development environments. By programming flash devices on the assembly line, hard-to-manage inventories of pre-programmed flash memories can be eliminated and last-minute changes can be made to the programming data. Development engineers can load a new software image in a matter of seconds instead of sometimes waiting an hour or more.

Pricing and Availability

The FPGA-based FFP tool for ScanWorks is available now from ASSET InterTech and its distributors. Pricing for one-year subscriptions start at $8,485 for a manufacturing license and $15,000 for a development license. For more information, call 888-694-6250, fax 972-437-2826, e-mail ai-info@asset-intertech.com.

About ASSET InterTech

ASSET InterTech (www.asset-intertech.com) is a leading supplier of JTAG-based tools to debug, validate and test software and hardware. The company’s best-in-class SourcePoint and ScanWorks platforms work in tandem to give engineers real insight from code to silicon. SourcePoint is a powerful debugger with advanced trace tools for embedded software systems, such as those based on Intel and AMD x86 processors. The boundary-scan based ScanWorks adds control of instruments embedded in chips for at-speed test and design validation of circuit boards. The result is maximum test coverage of the circuit board. Together they empower engineers with tools and technology for the entire life-cycle of a system, beginning with software and hardware development, continuing through design validation and software/hardware integration, and eventually supporting the testing of the product in manufacturing and field service. ASSET InterTech is located at 2201 North Central Expressway, Suite 105, Richardson, Texas 75080.