San Jose, California-based programmable logic company Xilinx Inc has launched new Java-based tools and technology so that users can upgrade its field programmable gate arrays over the internet. Xilinx believes the tools will boost the use of its FPGA chips in network appliances such as multi-use set-top boxes, games, security systems and process controllers. Automatic and remote updates, which rely on a pervasive network connection and the capabilities of the Java language, could give new life to the veteran FPGA industry, which has been forecast to reach around $2.2bn in revenues this year. The Xilinx Jbits applications programming interface and ChipScope tools are part of the company’s Internet Reconfigurable Logic effort, and work in conjunction with Xilinx’s Virtex series of chips, introduced earlier this year. They make possible dynamic upgrades of both software and logic on the customer premises. The Jbits API enables a designer to write information directly to the Virtex chip for partial or full reconfiguration of the internal logic of the hardware device. It’s also possible to integrate the operations of the FPGA with other systems components, such as the embedded processor, graphics processor or other digital peripheral devices. Java applets can be used to control programs, consumer interface programs or updates – the first use of Java logic applets as a carrier for hardware updates rather than the more usual software updates, according to Xilinx. ChipScope is a portable interactive debug tool written in Java so that designers can examine the operation of Xilinx FPGA circuits. Xilinx has already been trying out many of the concepts at a number of its systems company customers. IBM Corp has been using the reconfigurable chips in its ATM switches, and Compaq Computer Corp in its PCI Development Platform product. Siemens AG, Sun Microsystems Inc and logic synthesis software supplier Synplicity Inc announced support for the products. Beta versions of the tools are due in the first quarter of next year, when pricing will be announced. Meanwhile, other vendors of programmable logic devices can use the open Java API for Boundary Scan for online configuration, using the IEEE’s 1149.1 JTAG port. Potential users include Atmel Corp, Cypress Semiconductor Inc, Lattice Semiconductor Corp, Lucent Technologies Inc, Philips Electronics NV and Quicklogic Corp.
