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INTRODUCTION
The Actel SmartFusion™ family of intelligent mixed-signal FPGAs builds on the
technology first introduced with the Fusion mixed-signal FPGAs. SmartFusion
devices are made possible by integrating FPGA technology with programmable
high-performance analog and hardened ARM® Cortex™-M3 microcontroller
blocks on a flash semiconductor process. The SmartFusion family takes its name
from the fact that these three discrete technologies are integrated on a single chip,
enabling the lowest cost of ownership and smallest footprint solution to you.
SmartFusion intelligent mixed signal FPGAs are the only devices that integrate
an FPGA, ARM® Cortex™-M3, and programmable analog, offering full
customization, IP protection, and ease-of-use. Based on Actel's proprietary flash
process, SmartFusion FPGAs are ideal for hardware and embedded designers who
need a true system-on-chip (SoC) solution that gives more flexibility than
traditional fixed-function microcontrollers—without the excessive cost of soft
processor cores on traditional FPGAs.
Full-Featured FPGA
SmartFusion devices feature Actel’s proven, flash-based ProASIC3 FPGA
architecture. Built on an advanced 130-nm CMOS process, Actel offers densities
ranging from 60K to 500K system gates, with 350 MHz performance and up to
204 I/Os. This combination enables the integration of existing functions from
other devices, substantially reducing board space and power consumption of the
overall system.
Microcontroller Subsystem
Intelligence is added to the FPGA in the form of a microcontroller subsystem that
features a hard ARM Cortex-M3 processor running at 100 MHz. A full
complement of standard peripherals and features include:
– Multi-layer AHB communications matrix with up to 16 Gbps throughput
– 10/100 Ethernet MAC with RMII interface
– Two of each: SPI, I2C, UART, 32-bit Timers
– Up to 512 KB flash memory and 64 KB of SRAM
– External memory controller (EMC)
– 8-channel DMA controller
Programmable Analog
The innovative and proprietary Analog Compute Engine (ACE) performs sample
sequencing and computation, which offloads the ARM Cortex-M3 processor from
analog initialization and processing. The programmable analog system features:
– ADCs and DACs with 1 percent accuracy.
– Up to three 12-bit ADC with up to 600 Ksps sampling rate
– Up to three 12-bit first order sigma delta DACs
– Up to ten 50 ns high-speed comparators
– Multiple integrated temperature, voltage and current monitors
High-Performance FPGA
• Based on Actel's proven ProASIC®3 FPGA Fabric
• Low-Power, Firm-Error Immune 130-nm, 7-Layer
Metal, Flash-Based CMOS Process
• Nonvolatile, Live at Power-Up, Retains Program
When Powered Off
• 350 MHz System Performance
• Embedded SRAMs and FIFOs
– Variable Aspect Ratio 4,608-Bit SRAM Blocks
– x1, x2, x4, x9, and x18 Organizations
– True Dual-Port SRAM (excluding x18)
– Programmable Embedded FIFO Control Logic
• Secure ISP with 128-Bit AES via JTAG
• FlashLock® to Secure FPGA Contents
• Five Clock Conditioning Circuits (CCCs) with up to 2
Integrated Analog PLLs
– Phase Shift, Multiply/Divide, and Delay
Capabilities
– Frequency: Input 1.5–350 MHz, Output 0.75 to
350 MHz
Key Benefits
Full Design Customizability
o Create a product with exactly the features you need
o Innovate and differentiate for a competitive edge
o Incorporate last-minute changes with an on-chip FPGA
o Future-proof your design with in-application programming (IAP)
capability for field upgrades
o Experiment with hardware acceleration for select algorithms in
FPGA fabric
Intellectual Property (IP) Protection
o Inherent flash FPGA IP security with a complete SoC
o Snoop-free interface between microcontroller and FPGA
o No security risk at power-up due to bitstream download
o Secure in-system programming (ISP) with 128-bit Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES) via JTAG
o FlashLock® to prevent FPGA contents from being read back
o Protection against overbuilding with customer programmable device
key
Ease-of-Use Increases Productivity
o A single platform for your entire line of products
o Integrated design environment for both FPGA and embedded
designers
o Simple GUI-based configuration of complex programmable analog
o Industry leading compile and debug from Keil™, IAR Systems®
and GNU
o Micrium supports SmartFusion with real time operating system
(RTOS) and middleware components
SmartFusion Architecture
Along with microcontroller (MCU), FPGA and analog, SmartFusion intelligent
mixed-signal FPGAs integrate substantial flash and SRAM memory and
comprehensive clock generation and management circuitry. SmartFusion
architecture enables data storage and execution of code from a single monolithic
device. In addition, in-application programming (IAP) enables real-time updates
and reprogramming of the complete chip. Design compromises that were
inevitable with traditional fixed-function microcontrollers and FPGAs are
eliminated when designing with SmartFusion devices
Designing with SmartFusion
Designing with SmartFusion involves three different types of design: FPGA
design, embedded design and analog design. These roles can be filled by three
different designers, two designers, or even a single designer, depending on
company structure and project complexity. Actel has developed design tools and
flows to meet the needs of these three types of designers so they can work
together smoothly on a single project
• FPGA Design—Libero® Integrated Design Environment (IDE) is
Actel’s comprehensive software toolset for designing with all
Actel FPGAs. Libero IDE includes industry-leading synthesis,
simulation and debug tools such as Synplicity® and ModelSim®,
as well as innovative timing and power optimization and analysis.
• Embedded Design—Actel offers FREE SoftConsole
Eclipse-based IDE, which includes the GNU C/C++ compiler
and GDB debugger. Actel also offers evaluation versions of
software from Keil and IAR, with full versions available from
respective suppliers.
• Analog Design—The MSS configurator provides graphical
configuration for current, voltage and temperature monitors,
sample sequencing setup, and post-processing configuration,
as well as DAC output.
The MSS configurator creates a bridge between the FPGA and
embedded designers so device configuration can be easily shared
between multiple developer.
Design Hardware
SmartFusion is fully supported by design hardware supplied by Actel and
partners, covering a range from low-cost evaluation to full-featured development
kits and application-specific daughter cards.
The SmartFusion Evaluation Kit is ideal for first time users who want to
evaluate the technology and experiment with different communication
interfaces and peripherals.
The SmartFusion Development Kit is a full-featured development platform
with extensive memory on-board, multiple networking options, and both
digital and analog expansion headers.
The SmartFusion MPM Daughter Card implements complex configurable
power management and can be used with either the evaluation or
development kit.
Actel's Mixed Signal Daughter Card is designed for connection to the
mixed signal header on the SmartFusion Evaluation or Development Kit.
The board includes test points for the signals driven by the mixed signal
header and also has a 100 mil header which can be used to wire wrap or
solder signals directly.
SmartFusion Ecosystem
Actel has a long history of supplying comprehensive FPGA development tools
and recognizes the benefit of partnering with industry leaders to deliver the
optimum usability and productivity to customers. Taking the same approach with
processor development, Actel has partnered with key industry leaders in the
microcontroller space to provide the robust SmartFusion ecosystem. Actel is
partnering with Keil and IAR to provide Software IDE support to SmartFusion
system designers. The result is a robust solution that can be easily adopted by
existing embedded developers. The learning path is straightforward for FPGA
designers.
The diagram above represents support for the Actel device and ecosystem
resources. At the foundation is the SmartFusion hardware platform. Built on it is
the hardware abstraction layer (HAL), which is based on the ARM Cortex
Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS). Each of the peripherals
has its own driver, whether it is hard IP or soft IP added in the FPGA fabric.
Above the drivers is a real-time operating system (RTOS) with protocol stacks
and interfaces, provided by third party vendors. The designer can add secret sauce
or custom applications involving all or none of the layers below.By selecting an
ARM processor, Actel’s customers can benefit from the extensive ARM
ecosystem. By building on Actel supplied HAL and drivers, third party vendors
can easily port RTOS and middleware for the SmartFusion devices.
IP and Solutions
SmartFusion FPGAs contain an ARM Cortex-M3 processor and multiple
peripherals hard coded into the device. In addition to these, Actel offers soft
peripherals that can be placed in the FPGA fabric of the device.
Actel also offers a number of solutions that demonstrate the use of the
SmartFusion device in various applications to accelerate time-to-market for
customers.
Motor Control
SmartFusion intelligent mixed-signal FPGAs are uniquely suited to active motor
control for permanent magnet motors, servo motors, series motors, separately
excited motors and alternating current induction motors. A SmartFusion FPGA
can actively manage multiple electric motors, including start and stop, control of
rotational direction, speed and torque, protection against motor overloads or faults
and active control using closed loop performance algorithms. SmartFusion on-
chip resources allow you to monitor motor performance in real time with or
without dedicated encoders, applying corrective control signals to maintain
commanded direction, speed and torque and deliver precise motor position
control.
Actel’s motor control partner, Power and Control Design, Inc.,
has produced a SmartFusion Motor Control Development Kit
that enables demonstration and benchtop development of
your world-class permanent magnet motor control products.
The kit includes five reference designs with source files:
• Trapezoidal using Hall effect sensor feedback
• Sinusoidal using Hall effect sensor feedback
• Sinusoidal with encoder feedback
• Sensorless trapezoidal with back-EMF feedback
• Ethernet interactive control of motors.
Industrial Automation
The range of peripherals SmartFusion offers for the Cortex-M3 processor and the
flexibility of its FPGA fabric make the device ideal for industrial automation. The
SmartFusion Development Kit supports Ethernet, EtherCAT, CAN, UART, I2C
and SPI hardware, while firmware can be used for various other interface
standards such as Modbus® and PROFIBUS for industrial networking. With the
use of the programmable analog for sensing and analog outputs, SmartFusion can
also be used in industrial control applications, including gateways, sensing,
actuators and I/O devices. The list below describes how the various sections of
the device could be used in industrial automation.
Microcontroller Subsystem
• ARM Cortex-M3 running Fieldbus protocol stack
• Ethernet MAC – standard protocols
FPGA Fabric
• Multiple RS485 capable UARTs
- PROFIBUS, Modbus, WorldFIP, P-NET
• High Speed Manchester Encoding/Decoding
• CAN
Analog
• ADC for sensing
• DAC for excitation
System Management
System management continues to gain importance in the design of all electronic
systems, since smaller process geometries drive more multi-volt devices and are
more susceptible to voltage and temperature fluctuations. System management
tasks focus on maximizing system uptime, identifying and communicating alert
conditions and logging data and alarm conditions. This can be combined with in-
system diagnostics and prognostics, not only to help debug systems that have
failed, but also to identify potential failures before they arise. Thus, using
SmartFusion as a system manager provides the designer maximum
implementation flexibility.
• Use the sample sequence engine in the ACE to manage
system health data collection.
• Use the post-processing engine in the ACE to manage
alert condition flag generation.
• Cortex-M3 only needs to make requests to the ACE and
respond to interrupts, no processing cycles needed.
• Use FPGA gates for control algorithms when needed.
• Communicate through I2C, UART, SPI or Ethernet for
updates and reporting.
Leveraging the considerable processing power of the ACE
leaves the Cortex-M3 and FPGA gates available for running
the actual application or communicating with the outside
world. This not only eliminates the need for multiple ASSP
devices to perform system management, but prevents
system management from being an unnecessary burden
on the bill-of-materials (BOM) cost. Selecting SmartFusion
devices for system management provides flexibility and reliability at the lowest
total cost of ownership (TCO).
Power Management
SmartFusion Mixed-Signal Power Manager (MPM)
enables designers to integrate intelligent configurable
power management with their own Cortex-M3 firmware
and FPGA design using SmartFusion devices.
SmartFusion MPM is a complete power management
example design that demonstrates power rail monitoring,
power sequencing, closed-loop trimming, power-up and
power-down control and event data logging for up to
32 individual power supplies.
• Manages up to 32 power regulators
• 8 configurable PWM trimming outputs
• 32 general purpose digital outputs
• Data logging to eNVM of critical events
• I2C and JTAG configuration updates.
SmartFusion Evaluation Kit
• Supports SmartFusion evaluation, including ARM Cortex-M3, FPGA
and programmable analog
• Free one-year Libero Integrated
Design Environment (IDE) software
and Gold license with SoftConsole
for program and debug
• Two USB cables
• User’s guide, tutorial and design examples
• Printed circuit board (PCB)
schematics, layout files and
bill-of-materials (BOM)
• Board features
- Ethernet interface
- USB port for power and
HyperTerminal
- USB port for programming
and debug
- J-Link header for debug
- Mixed-signal header
- SPI flash – off-chip memory
- Reset and 2 user switches, 8 LEDs
- POT for voltage / current monitor
- Temperature monitor
- Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
