Recently, NEC introduced an FPGA-specific version of CyberWorkBench, a high-end synthesis tool for semiconductor design. CyberWorkBench is a C-based LSI (Note 1) design tool developed by NEC. The tool takes C language programs such as ANSI-C and SystemC as input, and focuses on synthesis tools that automatically generate high-performance and high-quality circuits. It has a high-speed verification environment coordinated with software, source code debugging functions, formal attribute verification, and so on. Verification function to implement All-in-C. Usually when designing an LSI, hardware-specific description language HDL (Note 2) is used, and CyberWorkBench is used. Since C language can be input, design description can be reduced to one-seventh, and behavioral and cycle-accurate levels can be used. Simulations allow the simulation to be up to hundreds of times faster than RTL simulation. Therefore, CyberWorkBench is a design tool for innovative LSI design.
FPGAs have entered the market about 20 years ago and have achieved a leap forward so far. In recent years, the correspondence with high-speed external interfaces and the accuracy of transmitted data have been improved. Moreover, in order to allow smooth processing of images, signals, etc., DSP modules and multiple memory modules can also be used in addition to general-purpose circuit modules, thereby achieving high integration and high performance. With such high-tech support, FPGAs have rapidly become popular.
In tandem with the development of the FPGA, NEC has merged the epoch-making technology of CyberWorkBench with FPGAs. NEC worked with the main FPGA companies ALTERA and XILINX to start the development of the CyberWorkBench FPGA version, and provided the CyberWorkBench Professional, Standard, and Basic versions, which were sold today. Although FPGAs currently use HDL input as the mainstream, the use of CyberWorkBench makes it possible to use C-language input. More technicians can use C-language inputs to use FPGAs.
The CyberWorkBench FPGA Special Edition has the following features 1. There are product configurations suitable for various purposes According to the use of the FPGA user, the corresponding version can be selected from the following three versions.
All FPGAs can use the Professional version of CyberWorkBench;
Limit the design object FPGA series, the Standard Edition and Basic Edition that have restrictions on the size of the design circuit.
2. Cheaper CyberWorkBench FPGA version starts at 2 million yen (excluding tax).
3. FPGA-optimized FPGA-specific version of the output HDL improves operating performance and enables button-based user interface GUI operations. In terms of synthesis functions, there are optimization processes for the balance control of routing resources and computing resources, optimization of characteristics for each FPGA, and in particular, processing for improving the frequency.
4. GUIs and CUIs with good operation performance, rich operation manuals and training materials have intuitive and easy-to-use GUIs and CUIs. Software designers who are unfamiliar with LSI design and those who are just beginning to design LSI can easily use CyberWorkBench. In addition, users who have little knowledge of LSI can use CyberWorkBench to enrich the content of operation manuals and training materials.
NEC hopes to use CyberWorkBench to hardwareize existing functions implemented by software, contribute to lower power consumption, higher speed, and lower cost of electronic devices and contribute to a better society. With this FPGA-specific release, we hope that more customers will use CyberWorkBench. At the same time, through the introduction of CyberWorkBench, C language software developers can also take on LSI design tasks to compensate for the lack of LSI designers. The developer of electronic equipment can verify the operation of a circuit designed in C language on a printed circuit board loaded with an FPGA on an actual device.
It is reported that NEC's sales target this year is to obtain more than 300 company users worldwide.
FPGAs have entered the market about 20 years ago and have achieved a leap forward so far. In recent years, the correspondence with high-speed external interfaces and the accuracy of transmitted data have been improved. Moreover, in order to allow smooth processing of images, signals, etc., DSP modules and multiple memory modules can also be used in addition to general-purpose circuit modules, thereby achieving high integration and high performance. With such high-tech support, FPGAs have rapidly become popular.
In tandem with the development of the FPGA, NEC has merged the epoch-making technology of CyberWorkBench with FPGAs. NEC worked with the main FPGA companies ALTERA and XILINX to start the development of the CyberWorkBench FPGA version, and provided the CyberWorkBench Professional, Standard, and Basic versions, which were sold today. Although FPGAs currently use HDL input as the mainstream, the use of CyberWorkBench makes it possible to use C-language input. More technicians can use C-language inputs to use FPGAs.
The CyberWorkBench FPGA Special Edition has the following features 1. There are product configurations suitable for various purposes According to the use of the FPGA user, the corresponding version can be selected from the following three versions.
All FPGAs can use the Professional version of CyberWorkBench;
Limit the design object FPGA series, the Standard Edition and Basic Edition that have restrictions on the size of the design circuit.
2. Cheaper CyberWorkBench FPGA version starts at 2 million yen (excluding tax).
3. FPGA-optimized FPGA-specific version of the output HDL improves operating performance and enables button-based user interface GUI operations. In terms of synthesis functions, there are optimization processes for the balance control of routing resources and computing resources, optimization of characteristics for each FPGA, and in particular, processing for improving the frequency.
4. GUIs and CUIs with good operation performance, rich operation manuals and training materials have intuitive and easy-to-use GUIs and CUIs. Software designers who are unfamiliar with LSI design and those who are just beginning to design LSI can easily use CyberWorkBench. In addition, users who have little knowledge of LSI can use CyberWorkBench to enrich the content of operation manuals and training materials.
NEC hopes to use CyberWorkBench to hardwareize existing functions implemented by software, contribute to lower power consumption, higher speed, and lower cost of electronic devices and contribute to a better society. With this FPGA-specific release, we hope that more customers will use CyberWorkBench. At the same time, through the introduction of CyberWorkBench, C language software developers can also take on LSI design tasks to compensate for the lack of LSI designers. The developer of electronic equipment can verify the operation of a circuit designed in C language on a printed circuit board loaded with an FPGA on an actual device.
It is reported that NEC's sales target this year is to obtain more than 300 company users worldwide.
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