Spartan-6 FPGA

Spartan-6 FPGA Domain Optimization

The Spartan-6 family comprises two domain-optimized FPGA platforms with a mix of features matched to stringent market requirements for price-sensitive, high-volume applications:

Spartan-6 LX FPGAs – optimized for applications that require absolute lowest cost. These devices support up to 150K logic density, 4.8Mb memory, integrated memory controllers, and easy–to-use and high-performance system IP such as DSP blocks, with an innovative open standards-based configuration.

Spartan-6 LXT FPGAs – extends the LX platform to deliver up to eight 3.125Gbps GTP transceivers and an integrated PCI Express-compatible core, both derived from proven Virtex technology, to provide the industry’s lowest risk and lowest cost solution for serial connectivity.

Below are a few examples of cost-sensitive applications for which Spartan-6 devices are suited:

Automotive Infotainment – Spartan-6 FPGAs provide the cost-effective performance required to deliver a compelling automotive user experience and the flexibility to respond rapidly to changing customer requirements. Spartan-6 FPGAs give developers of in-vehicle information and entertainment systems the ability to improve video performance with customizable graphics processing and acceleration algorithms using integrated DSP, logic and memory. Developers can simplify board design and eliminate external components by using the integrated PCI Express blocks and high-speed serial transceivers to interface to host processors. Streamlined access to video and data storage in external DDR3 memory is enabled using the integrated memory controller blocks. In addition to increasing engineering productivity and reducing system costs by nearly 50 percent, developers are able to meet strict power budgets using Spartan-6 FPGA power management technology that reduces system power consumption by 70 percent.

Flat Panel Displays - Spartan-6 FPGAs are a cost-effective alternative to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), enabling digital TV manufacturers to rapidly develop and deliver displays offering a superior viewing experience within ever shrinking product lifecycles. Spartan-6 FPGAs easily achieve tough performance and EMI targets with integrated low-jitter spread spectrum clocking. These devices also reduce power consumption by 50 percent, not only simplifying thermal management and reducing overall system costs but also dramatically increasing system reliability. Spartan-6 FPGAs enable developers to build extendable systems that support video/tuner functionality combined with advanced panel display capability linked together using DisplayPort interface-enabled 3.125Gbps GTP transceivers and high-performance MicroBlaze soft processors with optimized memory management unit (MMU) and floating point unit (FPU) functionality for real-time, dynamic backlight control.

Video Surveillance - Spartan-6 FPGAs offer the ideal combination of performance and flexibility to address requirements for standard- and high-definition resolution image processing, video analytics, and multi-channel video encoding for fast, efficient video transmission. Designers can develop systems that process native resolution image data at full frame rates using highly parallel implementations based on the embedded DSP slices. They can also implement edge-based video analytics with cost-effective, customized MicroBlaze soft processors. Not only do Spartan-6 FPGAs enable these advanced capabilities, but does so while enabling up to 33 percent lower cost than previous solutions and consume 50 percent less power using advanced power management and power-over-Ethernet implementations.