Date: 30/07/2010

New hardware programmer for Actel's flash FPGAs

Actel has released the FlashPro4, the newest hardware programmer supporting Actel's flash FPGAs namely the IGLOO series and ProASIC3 series (including RT ProASIC3), SmartFusion and Actel Fusion families. FlashPro4 also supports FPGA embedded software program and debug managed by Actel's SoftConsole Integrated Design Environment (IDE) for embedded processors. FlashPro4 offers high performance communication through the use of USB 2.0 and is high-speed compliant for full use of the 480 Mbps bandwidth.

"FlashPro4 provides our flash FPGA customers with the latest hardware technology for performing both hardware design implementation and software program implementation for embedded processor designs," said Wendy Lockhart, senior manager, design solutions, Actel. "In addition, it provides a common approach for facilitating FPGA debug for tools such as Synopsys Identify RTL debugger and Actel's on-chip debug, plus SoftConsole, Actel's embedded software IDE. It is also low enough in cost that our customers can include it with their end systems, so their customers and support personnel can readily perform in-system programming updates in the field."

The key features of FlashPro4 include:
1. Provides programming for hardware design for all current Actel flash FPGAs and embedded software design and debug for embedded ARM Cortex-M3, Cortex-M1, 8051s.
2. This programmer also provides a common interface for hardware and software debug for Synopsys Identify, Actel on-chip debug, and Actel SoftConsole embedded software IDE.
3. Low cost in-system programming (ISP) hardware for a single FPGA or chain of Actel flash FPGAs.
4. Supports 1.2V programming for Actel IGLOO nano 1.2 V core FPGAs.
5. It is fully backward compatible with the previous FlashPro3 programmer.

Package:
The kit includes a USB cable, a ribbon cable with 10-pin JTAG connector, and a quickstart card.

Price:
Actel's FlashPro4 programmer is now available for US $49. The FlashPro software is available for free, either standalone or as part of all Actel Libero Integrated Design Environment (IDE) versions.

For more information visit: www.actel.com.