Soft Macrocell Models for Versatile Express

A Soft Macrocell Model (SMM) is an FPGA implementation of an ARM processor, built with ARM development boards. The binary image is protected by the FPGA's built-in encryption mechanism, so the addition of any custom peripheral IP would require an extra LogicTile to be added to the development sytem.

The use of FPGA technology enables us to provide boards containing fully functional, tested examples of the newest ARM processors before any hard silicon devices are available from a foundry.

It is usual for an SMM to be constructed from one or more LogicTile Express boards. A PISMO2 or SODIMM memory module is generally included, to provide the system SDRAM since this is not on the motherboard.

An SMM Behaves like a Versatile Express CoreTile, which allows it to be mounted on the V2M-P1 motherboard for use as an off-the-shelf development system. PLLs in the FPGA are used to give the highest possible CPU speed for an FPGA implementation. As it is a drop in replacement for a CoreTile Express board, only a single set of off-board AMBA^® AXI™ buses are implemented.

SMMs are available in the Versatile Express range for the following ARM processors:

• Cortex™-R5 MPCore™
• Cortex-R7 MPCore
• Cortex-A15 MPCore