RTSX-SU RadTolerant FPGAs (UMC)
Advanced v0.3 1-5
Global Resources
Actel’s high-drive routing structure provides three clock
networks: hardwired clocks (HCLK), routed clocks (CLKA,
CLKB), and quadrant clocks (QCLKA, QCLKB, QCLKC,
QCLKD) (Table 1-1).
The first clock, called HCLK, is hardwired from the HCLK
buffer to the clock select MUX in each R-cell. HCLK
cannot be connected to combinational logic. This
provides a fast propagation path for the clock signal,
enabling the 9.5 ns clock-to-out (pad-to-pad)
performance of the RTSX-SU devices.
The second type of clock, routed clocks (CLKA, CLKB), are
global clocks that can be sourced from either external
pins or internal logic signals within the device. CLKA and
CLKB may be connected to sequential cells (R-cells) or to
combinational logic (C-cells).
The last type of clock, quadrant clocks, are only found in
the RTSX72SU. Similar to the routed clocks, the four
quadrant clocks (QCLKA, QCLKB, QCLKC, QCLKD) can be
sourced from external pins or from internal logic signals
within the device. Each of these clocks can individually
drive up to a quarter of the chip, or they can be grouped
together to drive multiple quadrants.
Design Environment
The RTSX-SU RadTolerant family of FPGAs is fully
supported by both Actel's Libero™ Integrated Design
Environment (IDE) and Designer FPGA Development
software. Actel Libero IDE is a design management
environment, seamlessly integrating design tools while
guiding the user through the design flow, managing all
design and log files, and passing necessary design data
among tools. Additionally, Libero IDE allows users to
integrate both schematic and HDL synthesis into a single
flow and verify the entire design in a single
environment. Libero IDE includes Synplify® for Actel
from Synplicity®, ViewDraw for Actel from Mentor
Graphics, ModelSim™ HDL Simulator from Mentor
Graphics®, WaveFormer Lite™ from SynaptiCAD™, and
Designer software from Actel. Refer to the Libero IDE
flow (located on Actel’s website) diagram for more
information.
Actel's Designer software is a place-and-route tool and
provides a comprehensive suite of backend support tools
for FPGA development. The Designer software includes
timing-driven place-and-route, and a world-class
integrated static timing analyzer and constraints editor.
With the Designer software, a user can select and lock
package pins while only minimally impacting the results
of place-and-route. Additionally, the back-annotation
flow is compatible with all the major simulators and the
simulation results can be cross-probed with Silicon
Explorer II, Actel’s integrated verification and logic
analysis tool. Another tool included in the Designer
software is the ACTgen macro builder, which easily
creates popular and commonly used logic functions for
implementation into your schematic or HDL design.
Actel's Designer software is compatible with the most
popular FPGA design entry and verification tools from
companies such as Mentor Graphics, Synplicity, Synopsys,
and Cadence Design Systems. The Designer software is
available for both the Windows and UNIX operating
systems.
Programming
Programming support is provided through Actel's Silicon
Sculptor II, a single-site programmer driven via a PC-
based GUI. Factory programming is available as well.
Low-Cost Prototyping Solution
Since the enhanced radiation characteristics of radiation-
tolerant devices are not required during the prototyping
phase of the design, Actel has developed a prototyping
solution for RTSX-SU that utilizes commercial SX-A
devices. The prototyping solution consists of two parts:
• A well-documented design flow that allows the
customer to target an RTSX-SU design to the
equivalent commercial SX-A device
• Either footprint-compatible packages or prototyping
sockets to adapt commercial SX-A packages to the
RTSX-SU package footprints
This methodology provides the user with a cost-effective
solution while maintaining the short time-to-market
associated with Actel FPGAs. Please see the application
note Prototyping for the RTSX-S Enhanced Aerospace
FPGA for more details
Table 1-1 • RTSX-SU Global Resources
RTSX32SU RTSX72SU
Routed Clocks (CLKA, CLKB) 2 2
Hardwired Clocks (HCLK) 1 1
Quadrant Clocks (QCLKA,
QCLKB, QCLKC, QCLKD)
04