New small-form-factor FPGAs from Xilinx

Optimized for use in applications such as digital displays, set top boxes, and wireless routers, the new small-form factor devices address industry demand for smaller footprint packages, enabling extremely cost-sensitive consumer electronic designs. The company will demonstrate its latest low cost, low-power solutions for consumer and automotive applications at this week's CES in the South Hall, booth #35768.

Delivering 50% lower system cost
Xilinx claim that: "By providing the industry's broadest offering of device package options, most comprehensive IP library (8x) and vast selection of turnkey development boards, Xilinx complete solutions eliminate the need for additional standard board components, thus reducing overall system cost by up to 50 percent as compared to competitive FPGAs. Eliminating external components also provides increased system reliability."

On-demand instant power savings
Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGAs provide dual power management modes, enabling instant power savings and eliminating the need for external components such as regulators, heat sinks, buffers, etc.

Compared to their standard operating mode, Spartan-3A devices provide up to 40 percent static power reduction in suspend mode and up to 99 percent in hibernate mode. The suspend mode cuts the quiescent current to a minimum state while retaining all information within the FPGA. This mode offers quick wake up time and system level synchronization with an awake pin to indicate status, and programmable timers to delay internal and output wake up until the system is ready.

Hibernate mode uses the lowest possible quiescent power (virtually 0 mA) with its ability to completely power off.

Low-cost design security with DeviceDNA technology
Xilinx Spartan-3A and 3AN devices offer a unique DeviceDNA serial number. This permanent ID code safeguards hardware and software IP, providing designers with the flexibility to implement custom algorithms that enable authentication, deter cloning, and control IP activation. Similar to an ATM transaction, the active value generated from the "card + pin" combination is compared to a stored number that authorizes or rejects the transaction.

Pricing and availability
Xilinx is introducing four new Spartan-3A small profile devices. Engineering samples of all four devices are available now. At customer production timeframes in 2008, the XC3S50A and XC3S200A, available in VQ100 packaging will be priced below $1.50 and $3.00 respectively. The XC3S700A and XC3S1400A, available in FT256 packaging are priced below $6.00 and $9.00 respectively. All pricing is based on 100K unit volumes.

Visit www.xilinx.com/Spartan for more information.