Opal Kelly Announces Pins - Online Interactive Reference for Module Pinouts
Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) April 09, 2014 -- Opal Kelly, a leading producer of powerful FPGA modules that provide essential device-to-computer interconnect using USB, announced a new online interactive reference tool called Pins for their FPGA integration devices. Pins replaces PDF and text-based references for their module pinouts with an interactive browser-based tool, making it easier for designers to integrate Opal Kelly modules into their designs.
Interactive Reference
Traditionally, FPGA module pinouts are provided by vendors as tables in PDF documentation, text definitions of the pinout, spreadsheet files, or, in the case of Xilinx and Altera modules, template UCF or QSF constraint files that can be used with CAD tools. In all such cases, such references may be difficult to follow as the designer needs to cross reference to other resources such as FPGA documentation. Furthermore, designers need to integrate these references into design flow which often requires copying the data to another format which may be prone to error.
Pins simplifies and enhances the module pinout reference by providing additional information that would otherwise be cumbersome in other formats. Designers can choose to show, hide, search, or filter this information when applying the reference. With the growing complexity of FPGA capabilities, a deeper interactive reference can save time, reduce errors, and improve understanding of module capabilities.
Peripherals - Design Integration and Constraint File Generation
Pins also introduces an online tool for integrating HDL design signal names with module Pin Lists. So called “Peripherals” include application-specific signal net names to link a customer’s HDL design to the module pinout. Pins can automatically generate the required UCF or QSF constraint files for CAD tool flow from these Peripherals, saving time and reducing data entry errors. Peripherals may be shared privately with other Pins users or publicly.
Pins is available now as a free online service and more information can be found at http://www.opalkelly.com/pins. User registration (also free) is required to store and manage Peripherals. Existing product pin lists have been added to the Pins portfolio and new products will be documented in the online reference as well.
About Opal Kelly
Opal Kelly, founded in 2004, offers a range of powerful, off-the-shelf, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 FPGA modules, including the easy-to-use Opal Kelly FrontPanel software interface and robust API. Opal Kelly products provide the essential device-to-computer interconnect for fast and efficient product prototyping, testing, development, and OEM integration. Development engineers, researchers, teachers, and serious hobbyists, worldwide, use Opal Kelly modules for a versatile and economical interconnect solution that shortens development time, fills expertise gaps, and dramatically accelerates time to market. For more information, or to purchase Opal Kelly products, please visit http://www.opalkelly.com.
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Frances Mann-Craik
Addison Marketing
408-868-9577
frances(at)addisonmarketing(dot)com
Frances Mann-Craik, Addison Marketing, http://www.addisonmarketing.com, +1 (408) 868-9577, [email protected]
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