Lattice Semiconductor introduced its second-generation EConomy Plus Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices, the LatticeECP2 family. Developed on 90nm Fujitsu CMOS technology utilizing 300mm wafers, this family cuts FPGA prices to under $0.50 per 1,000 Look-up Tables (LUTs) in high volume. The new family increases available logic density to 70K LUTs, increases the number of 18x18 multipliers to 88, boosts I/O performance over 50% and enhances configuration capabilities.
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Optimized Logic and Routing Fabric: The logic block and routing have been optimized to tailor features such as distributed memory (provided on 12.5% of LUTs) and registers (provided on 75% of LUTs) to the typical application set. The resulting logic fabric allows easy high performance logic implementation.
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Pre-engineered 840Mbps Parallel I/O: The rise of DDR memories and other similar standards leaves many designers grappling with the challenge of implementing high performance parallel I/O interfaces within FPGAs. To meet this need designers have historically had to utilize high cost FPGA solutions. The ECP2 devices provide DDR mux/de-mux, precision delay and gearbox logic elements. These can be combined to implement pre-engineered DDR2 (400Mbps) and other source synchronous interfaces operating at up to 840Mbps for applications such as SPI4.2 and ADC/DAC interfaces.
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Full Feature sysDSP Blocks: To support low cost DSP applications, the ECP2 devices embed sysDSP blocks capable of implementing multiply, accumulate, summation and pipelining functions. The devices can implement DSP functions up to 28,600 Million Multiply Accumulates per second (MMACs) at prices below $.001 per MMAC.
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Easy Field Logic Update: In order to accommodate bug fixes, respond to standard changes and support the addition of new features and services, an increasing number of FPGA designs require FPGA logic update in the field. The LatticeECP2 provides dual-boot support and Transparent Field Reconfiguration (TransFR) I/O to simplify field updates. The devices also support the storage of two or more configurations in industry standard Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) PROMs. TransFR I/O capability allows designers to precisely control I/O states while a new configuration is loaded into the FPGA, a significant improvement over the more conventional practice of tri-stating I/Os during reconfiguration.
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Bitstream Encryption for Enhanced Design Security: To address increasing design piracy concerns, the LatticeECP2 devices have on chip non-volatile key storage and decryption circuitry to allow the decryption of 128-bit AES encrypted bitstreams based on a unique user key. This brings the concept of bitstream encryption to low-cost SRAM FPGA products for the first time, again reducing the need for higher cost FPGAs in many designs.
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The LatticeECP2 family will be offered in two versions, the standard LatticeECP2 and a memory enhanced (LatticeECP2M) version to be announced later in 2006. The LatticeECP2M devices will increase density to 100K LUTS and enhance memory capacity to over 5million bits of RAM. In all, 6 device densities from 6K to 70K LUTs are planned for the LatticeECP2 family plus additional members of the LatticeECP2M family. The LatticeECP2 devices will provide between 55K and 1Mbit of embedded memory through sysMEM Embedded Block RAM (EBR), twelve to eighty-eight 18x18 multipliers and 95 to 628 I/O pins. In addition, each device provides two Delay Locked Loops (DLLs) and from 2 to 6 Phase Locked Loops (PLLs) for timing control. The parts will be available in a variety of low-cost TQFP, PQFP and fine pitch BGA (fpBGA) packages and operate from 1.2volt power supplies.
Design Tools and Intellectual Property Support
Design support for the LatticeECP2 devices is provided by the latest version of the ispLEVER tool suite, Version 5.1 using Service Pack 2. These ispLEVER design tools provide designers with access, in one software package, to all Lattice digital devices and include synthesis support from Mentor Graphics and Synplicity. An range of IP (Intellectual Property) cores, particularly suited for high volume applications, will be available from both Lattice and its IP partners. Additional details of IP support will be announced during 2006.
Availability and Pricing
Samples of the first member of the LatticeECP2 family, the ECP2-50, will be made available during Q1 2006. The LatticeECP2-50 will be offered in 484 and 672 ball fpBGA package options. Lattice plans to introduce the entire LatticeECP2 family during 2006. The ECP2-50 will be priced as low as $23.95 in 100,000 unit quantities for delivery in 2007.
