Iron - ALTERA: Programmable Logic ICs (free materialchik).

<b>Iron</b> - ALTERA: Programmable Logic ICs (free materialchik).

     (C) Research / VolgaSoft


         Modern technology.

                ALTERA.

    (Free materialchik)



     INTRODUCTION


     This article will talk about today a little miracle on The 
calculated breakthrough in the world of digital electronics -

programmable logic chips. This
one brick, which stands in the most modern models of 
ZX-SPECTRUM - GMX and SPRINTER, this is the mikroshemina on

which can be done almost everything - from
Z80X (say, 30MHz, machine cycle 1
cycle), to just the Pentagon, along with 2D
accelerator GSkoy, mouse, and IDE controller.

     Probably every ham developing digital device in the shower
wanted - where to find a pill to all
disease - a chip that will replace the
everything. Engineers are particularly in need of such devices, 
since the development of major product had to design a custom 
integrated circuit "under task. "From the moment of drawing the 
logic before the advent of the workpiece held

usually several months were spent huge amounts of resources. But
Demand creates supply - there
poluzakaznye large-scale integrated circuits
(BIS) and programmable logic arrays (PLA).

     Science does not stand still, technology became more and 
more sophisticated, and was once announced the release of 
package "software + hardware +" stone. " Idea was very simple: 
the developer draws a software design (can carry it with 
paper), or describes the logic of the future product binary 
equations and simple operators, then the compiler translates

scheme in some code and the code is sutured programmer 
(hardware) on-chip programmable logic ("stone"), which You can 
immediately solder in a fee. And no development costs of the 
crystal, and test. Developers of digital devices seized 
"Hurrah" novelty. 

     At today's market weight Manufacturer drivers LSI Logic a 
programmable (PL). Their products are of a like capacity and

architecture, a well and the quality of software and
hardware support, service and at the end
all cost.

     The clear leader today is a firm Altera Corporation. She 
won market thanks to not only a wide range of products, but 
also literate dissemination of its products. For example, the 
use of softproduktsiey (student version) with the aim of 
training - for free. For Russia, in general, does not matter (at

We have almost no one in the eye have not seen the law
copyright law), but abroad
This issue is relevant. By-products of the same company just 
broke on the domestic market - as a result we are now almost 
everything sitting on it. 



     WORDS FROM - TO THE CASE


     VLSI Altera's submarines are classified according to:


     1) the degree of integration (number of
available gates (elements 2,-NO) and
flip-flops);

     2) architecture is the simplest functional transmitter 
(cell); 

     3) the organization of internal structure
VLSI and structure of the matrix of functional connections of 
the transducers (the method of connection of cells); 

     4) presence of internal RAM memory;

     5) The technology of a programmable element (Fuse, EPROM, 
EEPROM, FLASH, SRAM) - then how sutured

scheme.


     To work with the majority of its BIS
Submarine by Altera offers a description language
Hardware MAX + plus II.

     The system design automation MAX + plus II supported the 
six families of VLSI submarines. 


                   Options


    The family of logic UPin Tech

                capacity



    Classic 300-900 22-64 EPROM

    MAX5000 600-3750 24-84 EPROM

    MAX7000E 600-5000 do164 EEP
    MAX9000 6e3-12e3 do216 ROM

    FLEX8000A 2500-16e3 do208 SRAM

    FLEX10K 1e4-1e5 do406 SRAM



     Logical capacity - the number of available items-2, NO, 
that is FLEX10K fit our 25000-LA3 them.


     UPin - the number of user terminals.

     Tech - technology.



     Practical explanation of the table:
let's say we take the most dead FLEX8000A
(Tehnoglogiya SRAM - ie after the
Power shemku ful conditions necessary to "fill"
in alterinu), hang custom
feet on the bus rodimigo Speccy (with the
will have some free), we
elementary decoder port placer
and concatenates it with the input alteriny. That
we get? We get a super device! Because now you can put into 
Alter virtually any circuit! This may be anything from the 
outside mat. CPU (say a single port byte Assume 16-bit number, 
the other - the second number, somewhere else - opcode

then remove the effect), until all that
comprehensible to the mind (if you poke a few
free foot "to be" - you can
make hardware shading, and hardware
construction segments, multi-channel programmable interrupts 
(especially useful for digital sound), new command processor 
(as in "sprinter" or more processor registers ....). Libraries 
can be crap hardware functions in order not to reinvent the 
great, as is still make stubborn "coders" and

read them in accordance with the task.
"Firmware" schemes of the same FLEX8282A ("very dead", see 
above) weighs in, if I memory does not fail 6Kb. During the 
configuration of all user-feet are in the Z-state and do not 
affect the system performance. If you want to make a device 
"for centuries" and do not configure it each time after 
switching on - you can use the family MAX. Just some of the LSI 
family of MAX are protected from "Merging scheme" - bits of 
secret development, but in my opinion, the application of this 
family are somewhat limited (At least in the "home" conditions)

because of the need for the programmer and
limited number of programming.



     A few words about the environment RAZRABOT
     CI: hardware description languages MAX +

     PLUS II.


     System MAX + plus II was written under the
following platforms: PC, MAC, SUN. No
Speccy or preslovutoy girlfriend in this
list for some reason was not. System
very good, simple, and with ample opportunities. The main 
components are a graphical and a text editor, compiler, editor 
of the charts (he "Debugger"), a timer, the editor of 
accommodation and wiring.


     The graphical editor is drawn
diagram of the device (if used graphic reference). As elements
scheme can use the logic "of bourgeois for guests" is there and 
the whole 1974 series, and if the enemy does not like symbols - 
you can draw all in nashinski and get to work. 

     The text editor is used to
text description of the equipment. Language
that somewhere between dBase, C, Pascal. There are almost ready 
to command description of the synchronous state machine

there if and case. Adder described
just as C [] = A [] + B []. A telephone
chip card is described and tested (see
below) for an hour without straining.

     The compiler checks shemku (or
tekstik) and generates the firmware under the specified 
"brick". Widely adjustable limits on the optimization of speed 
and volume allow the device to squeeze out the maximum

performance or at least occupied
area on the chip. There is a good thing
Design Doctor. Shows where there are races
and dangerous places, and under what conditions
they appear, do not forget to ask the press to reset the device 
to initialize after turning on, etc.


     In the Diagram editor, you can simulate the operation of 
future devices: let's define the input signals and watch them 
appropriate weekend race also do not forget to show up. 
Therefore, before collecting a scheme to drive better

it into a "max" and check. The truth was found
and glyuchechek - fails to start a T-flip-flop made of RS, 
sihroniziruemogo difference, although in practice it is plowed. 
View the chart is made very convenient: you can watch the 
diagram, combining them into groups and introducing convenient 
to view system calculation (binary, decimal, hexadecimal). The 
input data can be specified including the Gray code. Can See 
and internal states. 

     Timer - even in Africa timer - shows the delay and the 
maximum possible operating frequency of the device. 

     Editor-placement and routing is used for "hardware" retract
race (permutation logic cells) and
placement of user terminals.


     Price distribtera Altera's I to
the greatest misfortune to lose, so the
I can only say from memory that FLEX10K10
costs from $ 20, FLEX8282A $ 8, the elements
MAX family cost $ 3.3. If you wonder where you can get 
information, you can browse to the end of the article for 
further background information will go. 



     More information about

     FAMILY


     Classic family combines 3-series VLSI. LSI of this family 
can replaced by a device containing 10 to

20 chip average degree of integration,
and provide:

     * Zaderku propagation
from any input so exit BIS no more
10 ns;

     * Stable operation at frequencies up to
100 MHz;

     * Ability to work in energy-saving mode;

     * Ability to specify secrecy of development (from mikruhi 
scheme ago not to merge). 

     Ca.: It seems already out of production.


     Family MAX5000 integrates five series VLSI. LSI of this 
family can replace the device, containing up to several tens of 
chips average degree of integration, and provide: 

     * Zaderku propagation
from any input so exit BIS no more
15 ns;

     * Stable operation at frequencies up to
76 MHz;

     * Ability to specify secrecy development;

     * The possibility of using three
modes of output buffers: input
output, bidirectional.


     MAX7000 family consists of 7 series of VLSI. LSI of this 
family can replace the device, containing up to hundreds

chip average degree of integration and
provide:

     * Propagation delay
from any input output BIS do no more than 5
ns;

     * Stable operation at frequencies up to
178 MHz;

     * Ability to control the switching speed of output buffers;

     * The possibility of using 4 modes of output buffers: 
input, output, bidirectional, open collector; 

     * Configurable low power mode for an entire
VLSI in general, and for chains of selected signals;

     * The possibility of programming and
reprogramming after desoldering on
board;

     * Ability to specify secrecy development;

     * Work with low (3.3 V) supply voltage.

     Ca.: Number of series compliant bus PCI.


     The family consists of 7 FLEX8000A
series VLSI. LSI of this family allow us to replace the device 
holding dozens of boards, made on chips high degree of 
integration, and provide an opportunity to: 

     * Stable operation at frequencies up to
294 MHz;

     * Emulate the internal bus with 3
states;

     * Work with lower (3.3 V) supply voltage;

     * Work in systems with mixed
(3.3 V, 5 V) supply voltage;

     * Implementation of an unlimited number of
configuration cycles, including
"On the fly", ie without powering down
VLSI;

     * Speed control switch output buffers;

     * The possibility of using 3 modes of output buffers: 
input, output, bidirectional. 

     Ca.: All VLSI in this series corresponds to the standard 
bus PCI. 


     Family MAX9000 integrates 4 series chipsets. LSI of this 
family allow us to replace the device, occupying dozens of 
boards, made on chips high degree of integration and provide an 
opportunity to: 

     * Stable operation at frequencies up to
125 MHz;

     * Independent of the logical part and a trigger macrocell;

     * Configurable low power mode for an entire
VLSI in general, and for chains of selected signals;

     * The possibility of programming and
reprogramming after desoldering on
board;

     * Work in systems with mixed
(3.3 V, 5 V) supply voltage;

     * Speed control switch output buffers;

     * Use 3 operating modes
output buffers: input, output, bidirectional.

     Ca.: Number of series compliant bus PCI.


     FLEX10K family consists of 7 series of VLSI. LSI of this 
family can replace the device, occupying hundreds of

boards performed on chips mean
degree of integration, and provide an opportunity to:

     * Stable operation at frequencies up to
450 MHz;

     * Implementation of on-chip SRAM and ROM of up to 24Kbit;

     * Independent of the logical part and a trigger kadogo 
gate; 

     * Emulate the internal bus with 3
states;

     * Multiplication of the internal clock speed;

     * Work in systems with mixed
(3.3 V, 5 V) supply voltage;

     * Implementation of an unlimited number of
configuration cycles, including
"On the fly", ie without powering down
VLSI;

     * Speed control switch output buffers;

     * The possibility of using 4 modes of output buffers: 
input, output, bidirectional, open collector. 

     Ca.: All VLSI in this series corresponds to the standard 
bus PCI. 


     You have it. Add only that
progress is not in place and in every
family series popribavilos.



     Turnout


     WWW.ALTERA.COM - there can be
For more information and electronic
keys to program MAX + Plus II (pretending to be students or 
researchers). 


     Company EFO.

     E-mail: zav@efo.spb.su

     Tel. (812) 247-5340

     194021,

     Polytechnique st., 21 (here you can

     buy by appropriate elements).



     REFERENCES


     1. Overview of the elemental base firm

        ALTERA (Antonov, AP, Melekhin

        VF, Phillip A., St. Petersburg 1997)


     2. The same book (only seems to

        more) lies on a compact set with MAX

        + Plus II in the form. PDF (Seems

        45 MB), although in English.