Debugging solution shortens design time

Xilinx FPGAs, crucial components in the semiconductor industry, are used in a wide range of electronics applications such as computers, wireless phones, automotive and industrial products.

The companies have fused the Xilinx ChipScope Pro, Agilent trace core and Agilent FPGA trace port analyser into a single solution that helps R&D design engineers shorten the debugging time for in-circuit designs.

The result of this joint development marks the first time in the semiconductor industry that FPGA verification software has been integrated into test equipment hardware.

The ChipScope Pro tool is an optional software tool that integrates directly to the Xilinx Integrated Software Environment (ISE) version 5.1i release.

The combination of Xilinx ChipScope Pro with Agilent trace core, a new IP core designed specifically for in-system debug of Xilinx FPGAs, and Agilent FPGA trace port analyser gives engineers an efficient method for performing complex analysis of the behavior of signals within the FPGA.

The Agilent FPGA trace port analyser, a LAN-based cable that provides high-performance access to the FPGA for configuration, is equipped with deep trace storage.

The complete solution supports Xilinx Virtex-II Pro, Virtex-II, Virtex-E, Spartan-II and Spartan-IIE FPGA families.

ChipScope Pro software, which supports all of the Xilinx FPGA families on Windows 2000 and Windows XP, makes it possible for Xilinx FPGA users to easily debug designs.

ChipScope Pro cores are integrated into the FPGA to provide real-time debug and verification capabilities via a standard JTAG port.

Using the ChipScope Pro software, designers spend less time debugging in-system chip functionality, thereby improving time to market.

The Agilent trace core can be integrated into an FPGA design in the same way ChipScope Pro cores are integrated, using the ChipScope Pro COREGenerator tool or directly into the design netlist via the Core Inserter.