Product Review
Introducing Opal Kelly’s new entry-Level Xilinx Spartan-6 USB FPGA module – the XEM6001
Clive Maxfield1/27/2011 5:07 PM EST
Comment
Max the Magnificent
It's not a waste of your time, because I will alert the folks at Opal Kelly and ...
aklimi
I signed up for EEtimes and wasted my (expensive) time only to write this ...
The folks at Opal Kelly, producers of FPGA-based modules that provide essential device-to-computer interconnect using PCI Express or USB 2.0, today announced the XEM6001, an FPGA integration module based on the powerful Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA with high-speed USB 2.0 interface for downloading and control.
This XEM6001 module is offered as an upgrade to Opal Kelly’s popular XEM3001, providing many enhancements, while keeping the same footprint and pinout. With its low cost, small size, included FrontPanel SDK, and large number of general-purpose input/output pins, the XEM6001 is ideal for integration into a broad range of projects.
The XEM6001, based on the Xilinx XC6SLX16 Spartan-6 FPGA, includes a new 32-Mb serial flash for FPGA configuration in standalone operation. Spartan-6 enhancements include integrated PLLs, double the number of block RAMs and multipliers, and a denser 6-LUT slice structure, when compared to the Spartan-3 based XEM3001. Opal Kelly maintained the same business-card form factor and pinout of the XEM3001 to allow designers to re-target their Spartan-3 XEM3001 designs for the new XEM6001.
"With XEM6001’s small Spartan-6 FPGA, we are now able to use twice the memory compared to the XEM3001. This allows us to run a double buffer for small image sensors, something we could not do before. This device really helps us in our research of miniature cameras. Thank you Opal Kelly!" said Eugenio Culurciello, Associate Professor Electrical Engineering, Yale University.
The XEM6001 is ideally suited for prototyping and integration into OEM devices where a USB interface, flexible hardware solution, or PC software interface would be useful. The XEM6001 can easily be added to a new board design to provide turnkey USB integration, with the convenience of Opal Kelly's FrontPanel programmer's interface and existing USB drivers. The product is also great for students and hobbyists who want to learn more about FPGAs and the convenience of investigating them through their PC.
The XEM6001 is available now from the Opal Kelly online store for $199.95 (Qty 1). It includes the Opal Kelly FrontPanel SDK and USB driver, XEM6001 User’s Manual, email support, as well as an active online User Forum.
This XEM6001 module is offered as an upgrade to Opal Kelly’s popular XEM3001, providing many enhancements, while keeping the same footprint and pinout. With its low cost, small size, included FrontPanel SDK, and large number of general-purpose input/output pins, the XEM6001 is ideal for integration into a broad range of projects.
The XEM6001, based on the Xilinx XC6SLX16 Spartan-6 FPGA, includes a new 32-Mb serial flash for FPGA configuration in standalone operation. Spartan-6 enhancements include integrated PLLs, double the number of block RAMs and multipliers, and a denser 6-LUT slice structure, when compared to the Spartan-3 based XEM3001. Opal Kelly maintained the same business-card form factor and pinout of the XEM3001 to allow designers to re-target their Spartan-3 XEM3001 designs for the new XEM6001.
"With XEM6001’s small Spartan-6 FPGA, we are now able to use twice the memory compared to the XEM3001. This allows us to run a double buffer for small image sensors, something we could not do before. This device really helps us in our research of miniature cameras. Thank you Opal Kelly!" said Eugenio Culurciello, Associate Professor Electrical Engineering, Yale University.
The XEM6001 is ideally suited for prototyping and integration into OEM devices where a USB interface, flexible hardware solution, or PC software interface would be useful. The XEM6001 can easily be added to a new board design to provide turnkey USB integration, with the convenience of Opal Kelly's FrontPanel programmer's interface and existing USB drivers. The product is also great for students and hobbyists who want to learn more about FPGAs and the convenience of investigating them through their PC.
The XEM6001 is available now from the Opal Kelly online store for $199.95 (Qty 1). It includes the Opal Kelly FrontPanel SDK and USB driver, XEM6001 User’s Manual, email support, as well as an active online User Forum.
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Max the Magnificent
1/27/2011 5:19 PM EST
I really like the Opal Kelly concept of creating these little modules so that designers of larger systems can focus on what they do best ... if you've used any of these modules and would care to share your experiences I'd love to hear them (max@CliveMaxfield.com)
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a_f_s
2/3/2011 2:04 PM EST
Very expensive.
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aklimi
4/24/2012 6:20 PM EDT
I signed up for EEtimes and wasted my (expensive) time only to write this comment: I don't understand why the Opal Kelly drivers (FrontPanel) are not accessible online. It's the third time in three years that I'm stuck without those drivers and they're intentionally not available online (you have to sign up for the forum, get approved, request access to the downloads section, wait for approval...). lab computers are replaced every once in a while. do you really expect me to physically keep the circle with the hole that came with it (CD) two years ago?? that's a very annoying approach and a big con for Opal Kelly products.
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Max the Magnificent
4/25/2012 2:53 PM EDT
It's not a waste of your time, because I will alert the folks at Opal Kelly and ask them to respond to your comment :-)
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