FPGA dev't kit targets high-bandwidth space apps

Microsemi Corp. has released its RTG4 FPGA development kit that the company describes as the first kit of its kind. The solution claims to provide space designers with an evaluation and development platform for applications such as data transmission, serial connectivity, bus interface and high-speed designs using Microsemi's RTG4 high-speed signal processing radiation-tolerant FPGA device.

The development kit provides all necessary reference to evaluate and adopt RTG4 technology quickly, without the need to build a test board and assemble the device onto the board. The RTG4 development kit is geared for evaluating and designing for remote sensing space payloads, radar and imaging, as well as spectrometry in civilian, scientific and commercial applications. Other applications include mobile satellite services (MSS) communication satellites, as well as high altitude aviation, medical electronics and civilian nuclear power plant control.

RTG4 FPGAs feature reprogrammable flash configuration, making prototyping easier for customers, noted the company. RTG4's reprogrammable flash technology offers complete immunity to radiation-induced configuration upsets in the harshest radiation environments, without the configuration scrubbing required with SRAM FPGA technology. RTG4 supports space applications requiring up to 150,000 logic elements and up to 300MHz of system performance. RTG4 is Microsemi's latest development in a long history of radiation-tolerant FPGAs that are found in many NASA and international space programmes.

The RTG4 development kit features one RT4G150 device in a ceramic package with 1,657 pins, two 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2GB SPI flash memory, PCI Express Gen 1 interface, one pair SMA connectors for testing of the full-duplex SERDES channel and two FMC connectors with HPC/LPC pinout for expansion. In addition, it flaunts an RJ45 interface for 10/100/1000 Ethernet, USB micro-AB connector, Embedded Flashpro5 programmer and external programming header and current measurement test points.

Kits are available for purchase.