Tektronix,
Inc., a leading worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring
instrumentation, has introduced version 2.0 of its Certus ASIC prototyping debug
solution. A suite of software and RTL-based embedded instruments, Certus 2.0
fundamentally changes the ASIC prototyping flow by enabling full RTL-level
visibility and making FPGA internal visibility a feature of the prototyping
platform. This simulation-level visibility allows engineers to diagnose multiple
defects in a day versus a week or more with existing tools.
A major challenge
today is that traditional FPGA debug tools are unable to support the
requirements of the ASIC prototyping market, particularly as designs have
become larger and span multiple FPGA devices. Add the increased complexity of
hardware/software interactions and the high-speed operation of most prototypes,
and FPGA debug has become a major bottleneck in the ASIC prototyping process.
Now, by using Certus 2.0 to pre-instrument up to one hundred thousand signals
per FPGA device, designers gain comprehensive RTL-level signal visibility
without time consuming synthesis and place and route cycles, allowing complex
problems to be pinpointed and resolved quickly.
As a
leading supplier of FPGA development and ASIC prototype boards, the Dini Group is at the forefront of ASIC
prototyping trends and well acquainted with ASIC prototype debug challenges.
"Proactive
debug capability for ASIC prototypes has been a missing ingredient within the
FPGA ecosystem," said Mike Dini, founder and president of the Dini Group.
"With Certus 2.0 we can instrument the design up front, enabling us to
quickly view the full operation of the design during a single debug session and
resolve issues in a fraction of the time it takes with traditional tools.
What's more it works with all of our existing boards - no need to wait in order
to take advantage of all these critical features."
Proactive
debug strategy
Certus 2.0 allows designers to automatically instrument all the signals likely to be needed in each of the FPGAs in a multi-FPGA ASIC prototype with a small FPGA LUT impact. This enables a proactive debug and instrumentation strategy, eliminating the need to re-compile the FPGA to debug each new behavior, typically a painful eight to eighteen hour ordeal with traditional tools. Other key capabilities include:
Certus 2.0 allows designers to automatically instrument all the signals likely to be needed in each of the FPGAs in a multi-FPGA ASIC prototype with a small FPGA LUT impact. This enables a proactive debug and instrumentation strategy, eliminating the need to re-compile the FPGA to debug each new behavior, typically a painful eight to eighteen hour ordeal with traditional tools. Other key capabilities include:
·
Automatic
identification and instrumentation of RTL signals based on type and instance
name including flip-flops, state machines, interfaces and enumerated types
·
On-chip,
at-speed capture and compression of many seconds of data without special
external hardware or consuming FPGA I/O resources
·
Advanced
on-chip triggering bringing the power of logic analyzer trigger methods to
embedded instrumentation
·
Time-correlated
capture results across clock domains and multiple FPGAs providing a system-wide
view of the entire target design
"Certus
2.0 fundamentally changes the ASIC prototyping flow and dramatically increases
debug productivity," said Brad Quinton, chief architect for the embedded
instrumentation group at Tektronix. "Because we are now delivering
RTL-level visibility of up to a hundred thousand signals spanning the entire
design, the debugging use case is comparable to RTL simulation. This enables
the direct debugging of hardware and software on the ASIC prototype without
going back to simulation, emulation or acceleration platforms, changing the
economics of ASIC silicon-based verification."
Certus
2.0 works on any existing commercial or custom ASIC prototyping platform, and
does not need special connectors, cables, or external hardware. In addition,
Certus 2.0 does not limit the operating speed of the prototype platform.
Tektronix
Embedded Instrumentation Solutions
Following the acquisition of Veridae Systems last year, Tektronix Embedded Instrumentation solutions reflect the growing importance of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software in helping engineers solve difficult instrumentation and debug challenges. As the release of a new version of Certus demonstrates, Tektronix is committed to strategic investment in EDA software-driven debug automation solutions that enable the validation of correct operation and the determination of the root cause of any issues faster in a unified and productive environment.
Following the acquisition of Veridae Systems last year, Tektronix Embedded Instrumentation solutions reflect the growing importance of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software in helping engineers solve difficult instrumentation and debug challenges. As the release of a new version of Certus demonstrates, Tektronix is committed to strategic investment in EDA software-driven debug automation solutions that enable the validation of correct operation and the determination of the root cause of any issues faster in a unified and productive environment.
Availability
The Certus 2.0 ASIC prototyping debug solution is available now and is priced at $19,500 U.S. MSRP for a one year term-based floating license.
The Certus 2.0 ASIC prototyping debug solution is available now and is priced at $19,500 U.S. MSRP for a one year term-based floating license.
About
Tektronix
For more than sixty-five years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test equipment for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at www.tektronix.com.
For more than sixty-five years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test equipment for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at www.tektronix.com.