Actel's Fusion programmable system chip (PSC) is the world's first mixed-signal FPGA family. The chips integrate configurable analog, large Flash memory blocks, comprehensive clock generation and management circuitry, and high performance programmable logic in a monolithic device.
One chip is all you need
Until now, system designers were forced to choose costly and space-consuming discrete analog components with programmable logic or mixed-signal ASIC solutions to implement a typical system. Fixed architectures and other technology barriers prevented the integration of individual components into a single, low cost chip that met all design requirements.
Inherent in the Fusion fabric are the benefits of configurability and field reprogrammability from the successful Actel ProASIC3 family of Flash FPGA devices. Fusion can be securely programmed late in the manufacturing process or after it is in the field. By enabling a single hardware platform to support multiple projects and products, this allows designers to leverage economies of scale in purchasing, while maintaining the ability to customise products for different markets. Both the firmware (Flash memory) and hardware can be updated in a single step.
Fusion interfaces to the real world. Up to 30 high-voltage tolerant analog inputs enable direct connection to signals from -12 V to +12 V, eliminating the need for signal preconditioning. Its analog to digital converter (ADC) is configurable and supports resolutions up to 12 bits, and sample rates up to 600 ksps. Fusion adds additional functionality with the inclusion of multiple differential input current monitor blocks, each with a built-in amplifier, increasing sensitivity and efficiency. An integrated temperature monitor allows for the monitoring of multiple remote temperatures with only an external diode needed. Up to 10 high current drive outputs are ideal for MOSFET control and/or PWM functions such as direct fan control.
Quickly build mixed-signal applications
A key benefit of the Actel Fusion PSC is the time-to-market advantage it offers compared to mixed-signal ASIC development or a complex multichip solution. With a host of peripherals and over 90 cores currently available, designers can quickly create any number of custom designs.
Fusion smart peripherals include the analog to digital converter, high voltage analog I/O, current monitor blocks, temperature monitor blocks, embedded Flash memory, RTC, on-chip temperature probe, gate driver, voltage regulator, and oscillators. All IP can access Fusion smart peripherals directly through the Fusion smart backbone. Fusion can support a host of applications, including power management, thermal monitoring, motor control, SRAM initialisation and configuration, and data acquisition and logging.
Fusion is an exceptional device for power management. Unlike today's multivolt FPGA solutions, Fusion is live at power-up and can be driven from a single 3,3 V supply. It also offers several sleep and standby modes of operation. It can be configured to monitor and sequence a multivolt system for voltage and current. The unique combination of single volt operation and power management capabilities makes it a nice candidate for system/board management applications.
The Fusion device is a good choice for motor control applications because it can monitor multiple voltage and current inputs and control multiple outputs in the form of pulse width modulators to control the speed of a motor. In larger motors, it can monitor and store temperature data as well as set warning flags and even shut down the motor, if necessary. Fusion can monitor current to understand the load on the device and also acquire and store vibration data for the motor.
In addition to the system applications already described, the Fusion device can be used to configure SRAM FPGAs. Since it is live at power-up, it can store the SRAM FPGA program in Flash and transmit the bitstream to the volatile FPGA. It can also perform the complex power sequencing, eliminating the need for multiple chips to provide the expensive support structure for SRAM FPGAs.
SmartGen, the Fusion graphical device configuration tool, simplifies design implementation by providing a graphical interface. Fusion users also have a substantial amount of intellectual property and application information available to them, enabling them to easily create complex designs.
Tools
To support the new Fusion technology, Actel developed a series of major tool innovations to help maximise designer productivity. Implemented as extensions to the popular Actel Libero Integrated Design Environment (IDE), the new tools allow designers to easily instantiate and configure peripherals within a design, establish links between peripherals, create or import building blocks (Fusion applets) or reference designs, and perform hardware verification. The tool suites also add comprehensive hardware/software debug features as well as a suite of utilities to simplify development of embedded soft processor-based solutions.
A Starter Kit is available containing everything needed to start using the advanced features of the Actel Fusion family. Designers can explore the various benefits of Fusion mixed-signal FPGAs including ISP, device serialisation, and FlashLock on-chip system security. Additionally, the kit has many added features to allow designers to fully experiment with Fusion capabilities.
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