Platform IP Products

Our Platform IP products combine multiple IP cores and essential software to give you a significant head start on ASIC or FPGA systems. We offer:

• Function Subsystems — popular combinations of two or more cores, such as a USB controller integrated with an 8051.
• SoC Kernels & PiPs — larger packages of microprocessor infrastructure IP cores integrated with essential software (also called fabric IP). SoC Kernels are general packages; Pre-integrated IP packages called PIPs are SoC Kernels fleshed out for a specific processor and/or system bus architecture. The AMBA infrastructure cores are also available individually.
• System Integration Services — our partners SoC Solutions have the 32-bit system development experience you need to get projects completed on-time and on-budget. Read about their recent work on our Synplicity ReadyIP PiP-AMBA package, or visit their site for more info on their services.

See links to our current Subsystem and PiP products to the right, and read more about this quick approach to system design below.

About SOC Kernels

SoC Kernels combine multiple IP cores for basic system functions with boot code, drivers, and other underlying software in a pre-integrated, pre-verified package.

This provides a significant head start for complex systems, and, together with the designer’s choice of 32-bit processor, is the quickest route to beginning actual hardware and software co-development.

As shown in the block diagram, an SOC Kernel includes the IP cores common to most 32-bit systems: interrupt controller, timers, interface for parallel inputs and outputs, address decoder, an internal memory controller (with a memory model), system bus interface elements, and a microprocessor interface.

Basic software functions in C or Assembly code are also provided so that an SOC Kernel is ready to use out of the box. These include a real-time scheduler, various drivers for peripheral devices, interrupt service routines (ISR), main code, basic boot code, and a hardware level programming interface (API).

Development Boards

FPGA-based development boards offer the quickest way to start developing an embedded system with an SOC Kernel. These cost-effective boards implement the IP cores and run the software of a Kernel, and also provide elements including additional peripherals, memory and memory connectors, LCD display and VGA monitor interfaces, USB ports, JTAG interface, and a straight forward means to integrate the designer’s custom logic. One example of a SOCK development board is that for the ARM926EJ™ processor offered by eASIC for their Nextreme™ structured device family.

Pre-integrated IP packages: PiPs

Because you don't need to select, integrate, and verify the essentials of a new system, starting with a PiP gives you a faster time to market and a lower development cost. These PiPs are available:

• PiP-AMBA-PKG, a special infrastructure library suitable for use with several popular 32-bit processors, including the ARM Cortex-M1 and TenSilica Diamond Standard 106Micro processors. An evaluation version of this PiP is also available to Synplicity users through their ReadyIP program.
• PiP-AMBA, a basic system for ARM 7 or 9 processor families and the AMBA AHB and APB buses.
• PiP-AMBA-E, an expanded system for eASIC's ARM926EJ processor and the AMBA AHB and APB buses.
• PIP7-TDMI, an expanded system for ARM 7 family processors and the native TDMI bus.

PiPs are available in HDL source code, or as optimized netlists for specific FPGAs and structured ASICs. Development boards, additional IP cores, and integration services are also available to further meet your particular needs.