Riviera-PRO supports system simulation of AMD Versal ACAP designs

Simulation and verification specialist, Aldec has announced that its latest release of Riviera-PRO supports system simulation of Versal Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP) designs.

Versal ACAP, developed by Xilinx/AMD, is an adaptable platform comprising an AI engine, processing system, programmable logic, network on chip (NoC) and hardened domain-specific IPs such as PCIe Gen5 with DMA and CCIX, HBM, 600G Interlaken and 600G Ethernet. It enables heterogeneous computing of complex algorithms and accelerates workloads, such as AI embedded computing and high-performance computing.

Riviera-PRO supports system simulation of Versal ACAP designs based on the Vitis hardware emulation flow for testing the interactions between AI engine, the processing system and the programmable logic. The entire hardware emulation setup and system integration is done within the Vitis environment. Vitis runs the AI engineE simulator for the graph application, the Riviera-PRO simulator for the programmable logic kernels, and QEMU (open-source system emulator) for the processing system host application. SystemC models are also available for the AI engine and NoC, and they can also be simulated in Riviera-PRO.

System simulation is critical for any Versal ACAP design because of its complex adaptable architecture and high logic density. The full system design can be tested with full debug visibility much earlier in the project cycle without any physical hardware, explained Aldec. This makes it easier to run more test scenarios, test corner cases, and debug complex problems.

Riviera-PRO also has a mixed-HDL simulation engine, advanced debugging environment using waveform viewer, advanced dataflow, RTL hierarchy, objects viewer, and verification coverage features such as code coverage and functional coverage. There is also comprehensive support for SystemVerilog and UVM for users who need to develop reusable and complex testbench environments.

“The Versal ACAP architecture is revolutionary in the FPGA domain, and a game-changer for heterogeneous computing”, said Louie De Luna, Aldec’s director of marketing. “With Versal, users can customise their own domain-specific architectures for optimised computations of their specific workloads. We are now stepping into the computing era where the differentiation is done in hardware instead of software.”

System simulation can be used to perform algorithmic validation, verify architectural extrapolation, connected hardware platforms and application software.

There are Versal ACAP tutorial designs and steps on how to use Riviera-PRO as the RTL simulator for the Vitis hardware emulation flow on Aldec’s Github.

Riviera-PRO 2023.04 is now available for download and evaluation.

http://www.aldec.com

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Achronix announces FPGA IP blocks with 400 GbE connectivity

FPGA and embedded FPGA (eFPGA) IP provider, Achronix has announced that its suite of flexible FPGA IP blocks, the Achronix Network Infrastructure Code (ANIC) includes 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) connectivity. ANIC IP blocks are optimised to accelerate high performance networking pipelines for Speedster 7t FPGAs and the VectorPath accelerator card.

As the demand for high speed data processing continues to grow exponentially, said Achronix, it has developed its IP to address the evolving needs of the networking industry. Integrating 400 GbE and PCIe Gen 5.0, Achronix empowers data centre operators, cloud service providers and telecommunications companies to create SmartNIC solutions which are scalable and flexible.

With 400 GbE support, the ANIC IP enables fast data transfer rates, allowing organisations to process massive amounts of data in real time. This accelerated network throughput maximises application performance and significantly reduces latency, said the company.

ANIC’s modular architecture enables customers to select SmartNIC components necessary for an application. Each optimised IP block is pre-verified with closed timing to speed design. Coupled with partial reconfiguration (the ability to dynamically change the functionality of a block within the IP design), solutions can be seamlessly modified in the field.

Customers can deploy custom IP functions, such as key value stores, intrusion prevention, de-duplication and other network applications, to provide highly parallelised, value added network solutions at 400 GbE network speeds.

Steve Mensor, vice president of marketing for Achronix Semiconductor described the introduction of 400 GbE as a breakthrough which will allow customers to unlock new levels of performance and address the ever-growing demands of modern data centres and communication networks.

ANIC modular IP runs on Speedster7t AC7t1500 FPGAs and VectorPath S7t-VG6 accelerator cards offering what is claimed to be the industry’s highest performance for networking and compute acceleration applications. The Speedster7t architecture includes a 2D network on chip (2D NoC) that provides 20 Tbits per second of total bandwidth. The 2D NoC offers high speed connectivity between the FPGA fabric and the high speed interfaces including 400 GbE, PCIe Gen 5.0, GDDR6, and DDR4/5. Additionally, Speedster7t FPGAs have machine learning processors (MLPs) distributed across the FPGA fabric. Each MLP is a highly configurable, compute-intensive block, with up to 32 multipliers that support integer formats from four to 32 bits and various floating-point modes including direct support for TensorFlow’s bfloat16 format and block floating-point (BFP) format.

Achronix Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California, USA, offering FPGA-based data acceleration solutions, designed to address high- performance, compute-intensive and real time processing applications. Achronix claims to be the only supplier to have both high-performance, high-density standalone FPGAs and licensed eFPGA IP solutions.

Its portfolio includes Speedster 7t FPGA and Speedcore eFPGA IP as well as  ready-to-use VectorPath accelerator cards targeting AI, machine learning, networking and data centre applications. All Achronix products are fully supported by the Achronix tool suite which enables customers to quickly develop their own custom applications.

Achronix has sales and design teams across the US, Europe and Asia. 

http://www.achronix.com

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MEMS-based RF multiplexers use switching technology to boost performance

Delivering up to 300 times the operational life and 60 times the test system throughput, PXI / PXIe RD multiplexer modules by Pickering Interfaces are based on the Ideal Switch switching technology from Menlo Microsystems and have a substantially improved performance, said the company.

Suitable for wireless communications and semiconductor test, the new MEMS-based RF multiplexers deliver vastly increased operational life (up to 300x), faster operating speed (up to 60x), higher bandwidth and increased RF power handling compared to traditional EMR (electromechanical relay) alternatives, claimed Pickering. Insertion loss also remains comparable with EMRs and much lower than solid state switches, added the company. 

According to Pickering, the modules are the first commercial MEMS components with the performance characteristics to support demanding RF test environments such as semiconductor, consumer wireless devices and various S-band applications (including mobile services, satellite communications, and radar). “Pickering has been monitoring MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) technology closely for years,” said Steve Edwards, switching product manager at Pickering Interfaces. Menlo Micro is the first company to offer a production MEMS switch that meets the specifications needed for RF test, he added.

The 40-878 (PXI) and 42-878 (PXIe) are 50 Ohm four to one 1 RF multiplexers. To accommodate varying sizes of test application, the 40-878 (PXI) and 42-878 (PXIe) are available with single, dual, or quad four-channel multiplexers. All occupy a single PXI or PXIe chassis slot, providing flexibility in chassis selection and minimising slot count. The 40-878 can also be supported in all Pickering’s LXI / USB modular switching chassis, allowing the use of a PXI-, LAN-, or USB-controlled switching solution with the same high levels of performance. The module is offered with either SMB or MCX connectors to allow users to select the most suitable interface for an application. Pickering also provides a full range of cabling solutions. 

Operational life is at least three billion operations for the 40/42-878 which far exceeds that offered by EMR-based solutions (typically 10 million operations). This minimises system downtime due to relays wearing out or requiring service. 

Operating speed is just 50 microseconds which minimises test cycle time, maximising system throughput, since multiple transitions can be performed in the time previously required for a single EMR switching operation. 

The bandwidth of 4GHz rather than 3GHz for existing EMR products contributes to test system longevity to support new higher frequency test requirements. The  increased RF power handling exceeds the 10W capability of EMR solutions, confirmed the company. “Unlike solid state solutions, the MEMS switches used in the 40/42-878 exhibit low insertion loss, typically less than 1.4db at 4GHz – comparable to EMR solutions, while offering all the benefits of a MEMS-based design,” added Edwards. 

The 40/42-878 modules are supplied with drivers that allow support in all popular software programming environments. All Microsoft-supported Windows versions and popular varieties of Linux OS are supported, as well as other real time hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) tools. All modules are covered by Pickering’s standard three-year warranty.

http://www.pickeringtest.com 

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RF calibration and verification testing automates V2X chipset production

Keysight Technologies’ PathWave Test Executive for Manufacturing Developer Version now supports automated RF calibration and verification testing for the Autotalk cellular vehicle to everything (LTE V2X) and dedicated short range communications (DSRC) chipsets. The chipsets are typically used in telematics control units which are embedded onboard systems that control wireless tracking, diagnostics and communication to and from a connected vehicle.

New vehicles are being equipped with multiple wireless systems which can present increased testing complexity and more complicated, expensive and time-consuming test and validation procedures. Telematics in particular, are required to interface with dozens of network technologies and communications protocols, said Keysight.

Off-the-shelf support for Autotalks chipsets automates complex calibration and verification testing to accelerate time to market, said the company. The software based test supports industry-leading chipsets, including 5G V2X, LTE V2X and DSRC communication chipsets. It also accelerates complex testing scenarios with automated control of Autotalks chipset and Keysight test instruments used as a standard test solution for a production line.

It also reduces deployment time and costs because the off the shelf test software does not require manufacturers to develop or maintain costly custom testing software or have deep wireless / radio frequency expertise for its development and use, explained Keysight Technologies.

The testing software runs on the Keysight E6640A wireless test set and is automated by the KS8328A PathWave Test Executive for Manufacturing Developer Version.

Amos Freund, vice president of R&D at Autotalks, said: “This collaboration with Keysight Technologies gives our mutual customers access to a turnkey calibration and verification solution, instead of going through the costly internal development process. Keysight implemented and automated Autotalks’ calibration guidelines and optimised it for performance utilising Keysight’s equipment capabilities.”

Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s Automotive and Energy Solutions, said: “This solution . . . abstracts the complexity of RF calibration and verification of chipsets into a simple and easy-to-use test sequence”. 

Keysight Technologies delivers design, emulation and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. It serves customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defence, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets.

http://www.keysight.com

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