• As Many as 512 Maximum Flip-Flops (Using CC Macros)
µ CMOS Process Technology
•0.22
• Up to 132 User-Programmable I/O Pins
Features
• High-Performance, Low-Power Antifuse FPGA
• LP/Sleep Mode for Additional Power Savings
• Advanced Small-footprint Packages
• Hot-Swap Compliant I/Os
• Single-Chip Solution
• Nonvolatile
•Live on power up
• Power-Up/Down Friendly (No Sequencing Required for
Supply Voltages)
• Configurable Weak-Resistor Pull-Up or Pull-Down for
Tristated Outputs during Power Up
v3.0
• Individual Output Slew Rate Control
• 2.5V, 3.3V, and 5.0V Mixed Voltage Operation with 5.0V
Input Tolerance and 5.0V Drive Strength
• Software Design Support with Actel Designer Series and
Libero Tools
• Up to 100% Resource Utilization with 100% Pin Locking
• Deterministic Timing
• Unique In-System Diagnostic and Verification Capability
with Silicon Explorer II
• Boundary Scan Testing in Compliance with IEEE Standard
1149.1 (JTAG)
• Secure Programming Technology Prevents Reverse
Engineering and Design Theft
General Description
The eX family of FPGAs is a low-cost solution for low-power,
high-performance designs. The inherent low power
attributes of the antifuse technology, coupled with an
additional low static power mode, make these devices ideal
for power-sensitive applications. Fabricated with an
advanced 0.22
achieve high performance with no power penalty
µ CMOS antifuse technology, these devices
.
eX Product Profile
DeviceeX64eX128eX256
Capacity
System Gates
Typical Gates
Register Cells (Dedicated Flip-Flops)64128256
Combinatorial Cells128256512
Maximum User I/Os84100132
Speed Grades–F, Std, –P–F, Std, –P–F, Std, –P
Temperature GradesC, I C, IC, I
Package (by pin count)
The eX family architecture uses a “sea-of-modules”
structure where the entire floor of the device is covered
with a grid of logic modules with virtually no chip area lost
to interconnect elements or routing. Interconnection
among these logic modules is achieved using Actel’s
patented metal-to-metal programmable antifuse
interconnect elements. Actel’s eX family provides two types
of logic modules, the register cell (R-cell) and the
combinatorial cell (C-cell).
The R-cell contains a flip-flop featuring asynchronous clear,
asynchronous preset, and clock enable (using the S0 and S1
lines) control signals (Figure 1). The R-cell registers
feature programmable clock polarity selectable on a
register-by-register basis. This provides additional flexibility
while allowing mapping of synthesized functions into the eX
FPGA. The clock source for the R-cell can be chosen from
either the hard-wired clock or the routed clock.
Routed
Data Input
S0
The C-cell implements a range of combinatorial functions
up to 5 inputs (Figure 2). Inclusion of the DB input and its
associated inverter function dramatically increases the
number of combinatorial functions that can be
implemented in a single module from 800 options in
previous architectures to more than 4,000 in the eX
architecture.
Module Organization
Actel has arranged all C-cell and R-cell logic modules into
horizontal banks called Clusters. The eX devices contain
one type of Cluster, which contains two C-cells and one
R-cell.
To increase design efficiency and device performance, Actel
has further organized these modules into SuperClusters
(Figure 3 on page 4). The eX devices contain one type of
SuperClusters, which are two-wide groupings of one type of
clusters.
S1
Figure 1 • R-Cell
DirectConnect
Input
HCLK
CLKA,
CLKB,
Internal Logic
D0
D1
D2
D3
CKS
CKP
PSET
DQ
CLR
Sa
Y
Y
Sb
Figure 2 • C-Cell
DB
B1
A0 B0
v3.03
A1
eX Family FPGAs
Routing Resources
Clusters and SuperClusters can be connected through the
use of two innovative local routing resources called
FastConnect and DirectConnect, which enable extremely
fast and predictable interconnection of modules within
Clusters and SuperClusters (Figure 4). This routing
architecture also dramatically reduces the number of
antifuses required to complete a circuit, ensuring the
highest possible performance.
DirectConnect is a horizontal routing resource that provides
connections from a C-cell to its neighboring R-cell in a given
SuperCluster. DirectConnect uses a hard-wired signal path
requiring no programmable interconnection to achieve its
fast signal propagation time of less than 0.1 ns (–P speed
grade).
R-CellC-Cell
Routed
S1
Data Input
S0
PSET
DirectConnect
Input
FastConnect enables horizontal routing between any two
logic modules within a given SuperCluster and vertical
routing with the SuperCluster immediately below it. Only
one programmable connection is used in a FastConnect
path, delivering maximum pin-to-pin propagation of 0.3 ns
(–P speed grade).
In addition to DirectConnect and FastConnect, the
architecture makes use of two globally oriented routing
resources known as segmented routing and high-drive
routing. Actel’s segmented routing structure provides a
variety of track lengths for extremely fast routing between
SuperClusters. The exact combination of track lengths and
antifuses within each path is chosen by the 100 percent
automatic place-and-route software to minimize signal
propagation delays.
D0
D1
D2
YDQ
D3
Y
SaSb
HCLK
CLKA,
CLKB,
Internal Logic
CKSCKP
Figure 3 • Cluster Organization
Type 1 SuperClusters
CLR
DB
Cluster 1Cluster 1
Type 1 SuperCluster
A0 B0A1 B1
DirectConnect
• No antifuses
• 0.1 ns routing delay
FastConnect
• One antifuse
• 0.3 ns routing delay
Routing Segments
• Typically 2 antifuses
• Max. 5 antifuses
Figure 4 • DirectConnect and FastConnect for Type 1 SuperClusters
4v3.0
eX Family FPGAs
Clock Resources
Actel’s high-drive routing structure provides three clock
networks. The first clock, called HCLK, is hardwired from
the HCLK buffer to the clock select MUX in each R-Cell.
HCLK cannot be connected to combinational logic. This
provides a fast propagation path for the clock signal,
enabling the 3.9ns clock-to-out (pad-to-pad) performance of
the eX devices. The hard-wired clock is tuned to provide a
clock skew of less than 0.1ns worst case.
The remaining two clocks (CLKA, CLKB) are global clocks
that can be sourced from external pins or from internal
logic signals within the eX device. CLKA and CLKB may be
connected to sequential cells or to combinational logic. If
CLKA or CLKB is sourced from internal logic signals then
the external clock pin cannot be used for any other input
and must be tied low or high. Figure 5describes the clock
circuit used for the constant load HCLK. Figure 6 describes
the CLKA and CLKB circuit used in eX devices.
Constant Load
Clock Network
HCLKBUF
Figure 5 • eX HCLK Clock Pad
Clock Network
From Internal Logic
CLKBUF
CLKBUFI
CLKINT
CLKINTI
Figure 6 • eX Routed Clock Buffer
Other Architectural Features
Technology
Actel’s eX family is implemented on a high-voltage twin-well
CMOS process using 0.22
µ design rules. The metal-to-metal
antifuse is made up of a combination of amorphous silicon
and dielectric material with barrier metals and has an “on”
state resistance of 25
Ω with a capacitance of 1.0 fF for low
signal impedance.
Performance
The combination of architectural features described above
enables eX devices to operate with internal clock
frequencies exceeding 350 MHz for very fast execution of
complex logic functions. Thus, the eX family is an optimal
platform upon which to integrate the functionality
previously contained in CPLDs. In addition, designs that
previously would have required a gate array to meet
performance goals can now be integrated into an eX device
with dramatic improvements in cost and time to market.
Using timing-driven place-and-route tools, designers can
achieve highly deterministic device performance.
I/O Modules
Each I/O on an eX device can be configured as an input, an
output, a tristate output, or a bidirectional pin. Even without
the inclusion of dedicated I/O registers, these I/Os, in
combination with array registers, can achieve clock-to-out
(pad-to-pad) timing as fast as 3.9ns. I/O cells that have
embedded latches and flip-flops require instantiation in HDL
code; this is a design complication not encountered in eX
FPGAs. Fast pin-to-pin timing ensures that the device will
have little trouble interfacing with any other device in the
system, which in turn enables parallel design of system
components and reduces overall design time. See Table 1 for
more information.
Table 1 • I/O Features
FunctionDescription
Input Buffer
Threshold
Selection
Flexible
Output
Driver
Output
Buffer
Power UpIndividually selectable pull ups and pull
Hot Swapping
• TTL/3.3V LVTTL
• 2.5V LVCMOS 2
• 3.3V LVTTL
• 5.0V TTL/CMOS
“Hot-Swap” Capability
• I/O on an unpowered device does not
sink current
• Can be used for “cold sparing”
Selectable on an individual I/O basis
Individually selectable low-slew option
downs during power up (default is to power
up in tristate)
Enables deterministic power up of device
V
CCA
and V
can be powered in any order
CCI
eX I/Os are configured to be hot swappable. During power
up/down (or partial up/down), all I/Os are tristated. V
and V
do not have to be stable during power up/down,
CCI
CCA
and they do not require a specific power-up or power-down
sequence in order to avoid damage to the eX devices. After
the eX device is plugged into an electrically active system,
the device will not degrade the reliability of or cause
damage to the host system. The device’s output pins are
driven to a high impedance state until normal chip
v3.05
eX Family FPGAs
operating conditions are reached. Please see the Actel SX-A
and RT54SX-S Devices in Hot-Swap and Cold-Sparing
Applications application note for more information on hot
swapping.
Power Requirements
The eX family supports mixed voltage operation and is
designed to tolerate 5.0V inputs in each case (Table 2).
Power consumption is extremely low due to the very short
distances signals, which are required to travel to complete a
circuit. Power requirements are further reduced because of
the small number of low-resistance antifuses in the path.
The antifuse architecture does not require active circuitry
to hold a charge (as do SRAM or EPROM), making it the
lowest-power architecture FPGA available today. Also, when
the device is in low power mode, the clock pins must not
float. They must be driven either HIGH or LOW. We
recommend that signals driving the clock pins be fixed at
HIGH or LOW rather than toggle to achieve maximum power
efficiency.
Table 2 • Supply Voltages
V
CCA
eX64
eX128
eX256
Low Power Mode
2.5V2.5V5.0V2.5V
2.5V3.3V5.0V3.3V
2.5V5.0V5.0V5.0V
Maximum
V
CCI
Input
Tolerance
Maximum
Output
Drive
The new Actel eX family has been designed with a Low
Power Mode. This feature, activated with a special LP pin, is
particularly useful for battery-operated systems where
battery life is a primary concern. In this mode, the core of
the device is turned off and the device consumes minimal
power with low standby current. In addition, all input
buffers are turned off, and all outputs and bidirectional
buffers are tristated when the device enters this mode.
Since the core of the device is turned off, the states of the
registers are lost. The device must be re-initialized when
normal operating mode is achieved.
2.5V LP/Sleep Mode Specifications
Typical Conditions, V
ProductLow Power Standby CurrentUnits
eX64100µA
eX128111µA
eX256134µA
Boundary Scan Testing (BST)
CCA
, V
= 2.5V, TJ = 25° C
CCI
All eX devices are IEEE 1149.1 compliant. eX devices offer
superior diagnostic and testing capabilities by providing
Boundary Scan Testing (BST) and probing capabilities.
These functions are controlled through the special test pins
in conjunction with the program fuse. The functionality of
each pin is described in Table 3. In the dedicated test mode,
TCK, TDI, and TDO are dedicated pins and cannot be used
as regular I/Os. In flexible mode, TMS should be set HIGH
through a pull-up resistor of 10k
Ω. TMS can be pulled LOW
to initiate the test sequence.
Table 3 • Boundary Scan Pin Functionality
Program Fuse Blown
(Dedicated Test Mode)
TCK, TDI, TDO are
dedicated BST pins
No need for pull-up resistor
for TMS
Configuring Diagnostic Pins
Program Fuse Not Blown
(Flexible Mode)
TCK, TDI, TDO are flexible
and may be used as I/Os
Use a pull-up resistor of
10k
Ω on TMS
The JTAG and Probe pins (TDI, TCK, TMS, TDO, PRA, and
PRB) are placed in the desired mode by selecting the
appropriate check boxes in the “Variation” dialog window.
This dialog window is accessible through the Design Setup
Wizard under the Tools menu in Actel's Designer software.
TRST Pin
When the “Reserve JTAG Reset” box is checked, the TRST
pin will become a Boundary Scan Reset pin. In this mode,
the TRST pin will function as an asynchronous, active-low
input to initialize or reset the BST circuit. An internal
pull-up resistor will be automatically enabled on the TRST
pin.
The TRST pin will function as a user I/O when the “Reserve
JTAG Reset” box is not checked. The internal pull-up
resistor will be disabled in this mode.
Dedicated Test Mode
When the “Reserve JTAG” box is checked, the eX device is
placed in Dedicated Test mode, which configures the TDI,
TCK, and TDO pins for BST or in-circuit verification with
Silicon Explorer II. An internal pull-up resistor is
automatically enabled on both the TMS and TDI pins. In
Dedicated Test Mode, TCK, TDI, and TDO are dedicated test
pins and become unavailable for pin assignment in the Pin
Editor. The TMS pin will function as specified in the IEEE
1149.1 (JTAG) Specification.
Flexible Mode
When the “Reserve JTAG” box is not selected (default
setting in Designer software), eX is placed in Flexible mode,
which allows the TDI, TCK, and TDO pins to function as user
I/Os or BST pins. In this mode the internal pull-up resistors
on the TMS and TDI pins are disabled. An external 10k
pull-up resistor to V
is required on the TMS pin.
CCI
Ω
The TDI, TCK, and TDO pins are transformed from user I/Os
into BST pins when a rising edge on TCK is detected while
TMS is at logical low. Once the BST pins are in test mode
they will remain in BST mode until the internal BST state
6v3.0
eX Family FPGAs
machine reaches the “logic reset” state. At this point the
BST pins will be released and will function as regular I/O
pins. The “logic reset” state is reached five TCK cycles after
the TMS pin is set to logical HIGH.
The Program fuse determines whether the device is in
Dedicated Test or Flexible mode. The default (fuse not
programmed) is Flexible mode.
Development Tool Support
The eX devices are fully supported by Actel’s line of FPGA
development tools, including the Actel Designer Series suite
and Libero, the FPGA design tool suite. Designer Series,
Actel’s suite of FPGA development tools for PCs and
Workstations, includes the ACTgen Macro Builder, timing
driven place-and-route, timing analysis tools, and fuse file
generation. Libero is a design management environment
that integrates the needed design tools, streamlines the
design flow, manages all design and log files, and passes
necessary design data between tools. Libero includes
Synplify, ViewDraw, Actel’s Designer Series, ModelSim HDL
Simulator, WaveFormer Lite, and Actel Silicon Explorer.
In addition, the eX devices contain internal probe circuitry
that provides built-in access to the output of every C-cell,
R-cell, and routed clock in the design, enabling 100-percent
real-time observation and analysis of a device's internal
logic nodes without design iteration. The probe circuitry is
accessed by Silicon Explorer II, an easy-to-use integrated
verification and logic analysis tool that can sample data at
100 MHz (asynchronous) or 66 MHz (synchronous). Silicon
Explorer II attaches to a PC’s standard COM port, turning
the PC into a fully functional 18-channel logic analyzer.
Silicon Explorer II allows designers to complete the design
verification process at their desks and reduces verification
time from several hours per cycle to only a few seconds.
eX Probe Circuit Control Pins
The Silicon Explorer II tool uses the boundary scan ports
(TDI, TCK, TMS and TDO) to select the desired nets for
verification. The selected internal nets are assigned to the
PRA/PRB pins for observation. Figure 7 illustrates the
interconnection between Silicon Explorer II and the FPGA
to perform in-circuit verification. The TRST pin is equipped
with an internal pull-up resistor. To remove the boundary
scan state machine from the reset state during probing, it is
recommended that the TRST pin be left floating.
Design Considerations
For prototyping, the TDI, TCK, TDO, PRA, and PRB pins
should not be used as input or bidirectional ports. Because
these pins are active during probing, critical signals input
through these pins are not available while probing. In
addition, the Security Fuse should not be programmed
because doing so disables the probe circuitry.
Figure 7 • Probe Setup
Serial Connection
16
Channels
eX FPGA
TDI
TCK
TMS
Silicon Explorer II
TDO
PRA
PRB
v3.07
eX Family FPGAs
2.5V/3.3V/5.0V Operating Conditions
Absolute Maximum Ratings
SymbolParameterLimitsUnits
V
V
V
V
T
CCI
CCA
I
O
STG
DC Supply Voltage–0.3 to +6.0V
DC Supply Voltage–0.3 to +3.0V
Input Voltage–0.5 to +5.5V
Output Voltage–0.5 to +V
Storage Temperature–65 to +150°C
Note:
1.Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum
Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. Exposure
1
+ 0.5V
CCI
Recommended Operating Conditions
ParameterCommercial IndustrialUnits
Temperature
1
Range
2.5V Power Supply
Range (V
CCA, VCCI
3.3V Power Supply
Range (V
CCI
)
5.0V Power Supply
Range (V
CCI
)
0 to +70–40 to +85°C
2.3-2.72.3-2.7V
)
3.0-3.63.0-3.6V
4.75-5.254.5-5.5V
Note:
1.Ambient temperature (TA).
to absolute maximum rated conditions for extended periods
may affect device reliability. Devices should not be operated
outside the Recommended Operating Conditions.
Typical eX Standby Current at 25°C
V
Product
V
CCA
CCI
= 2.5V
= 2.5V
V
CCA =
V
CCI
= 3.3V
eX64397µA497µA
eX128696µA795µA
eX256698µA796µA
2.5V
2.5V Electrical Specifications
CommercialIndustrial
Symbol
V
OH
V
OL
V
IL
V
IH
I
OZ
1,2
tR, t
F
C
IO
3,4
I
CC
ParameterMin.Max.Min.Max.Units
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN,VI = V
DD
Input Low Voltage, V
Input High Voltage, V
3-St ate Ou tput Le akage C ur rent, V
Input Transition Time tR, t
IV Curve5Can be derived from the IBIS model at www.actel.com/custsup/models/ibis.html.
Notes:
1.tR is the transition time from 0.7 V to 1.7V.
2.tF is the transition time from 1.7V to 0.7V.
3.ICC max Commercial –F = 5.0mA
4.ICC=I
CCI
+ I
CCA
+ 0.3 1.7 V
DD
+ 0.3V
DD
1010ns
8v3.0
eX Family FPGAs
3.3V Electrical Specifications
CommercialIndustrial
SymbolParameter
V
= MIN, VI = V
V
OH
V
OL
V
IL
V
IH
IIL/ I
I
OZ
tR, t
C
IO
I
CC
IH
F
3,4
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
Input Low Voltage0.80.8V
Input High Voltage2.02.0V
Input Leakage Current, VIN = V
3-State Output Leakage Current, V
1,2
Input Transition Time tR, t
I/O Capacitance1010pF
Standby Current 1.510mA
IH
IH
IH
IH
or V
or V
or V
or V
(I
IL
IL
IL
IL
or GND–1010–1010µA
CCI
= V
OUT
F
or GND –1010–1010µA
CCI
= -1mA) 0. 9 V
OH
(I
=-8mA)2.42.4V
OH
(IOL= 1mA) 0.1 V
(IOL= 12mA) 0.40.4V
Min.Max.Min.Max. Units
CCI
IV Curve5Can be derived from the IBIS model at www.actel.com/custsup/models/ibis.html.
Notes:
1.tR is the transition time from 0.8 V to 2.0V.
2.tF is the transition time from 2.0V to 0.8V.
3.ICC max Commercial –F=5.0mA
4.ICC=I
CCI
+ I
CCA
5.0V Electrical Specifications
CommercialIndustrial
0.9 V
CCI
CCI
0.1 V
CCI
1010ns
V
V
SymbolParameter
V
= MIN, VI = V
V
OH
V
OL
V
IL
V
IH
IIL/ I
I
OZ
tR, t
C
IO
I
CC
IH
F
3,4
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
V
= MIN, VI = V
DD
Input Low Voltage0.80.8V
Input High Voltage2.02.0V
Input Leakage Current, VIN = V
3-State Output Leakage Current, V
1,2
Input Transition Time tR, t
I/O Capacitance1010pF
Standby Current 1520mA
IH
IH
IH
IH
or V
or V
or V
or V
(I
IL
IL
IL
IL
or GND–1010–1010µA
CCI
= V
OUT
F
or GND –1010–1010µA
CCI
= -1mA) 0. 9 V
OH
(I
=-8mA)2.42.4V
OH
(IOL= 1mA) 0.1 V
(IOL= 12mA) 0.40.4V
Min.Max.Min.Max. Units
CCI
IV Curve5Can be derived from the IBIS model at www.actel.com/custsup/models/ibis.html
Notes:
1.tR is the transition time from 0.8 V to 2.0V.
2.tF is the transition time from 2.0V to 0.8V.
3.ICC max Commercial –F=20mA
4.ICC=I
CCI
+ I
CCA
0.9 V
CCI
CCI
0.1 V
CCI
1010ns
V
V
v3.09
eX Dynamic Power Consumption – High Frequency
300
250
200
150
100
Power (mW)
50
0
50100150200
Frequency (MHz)
Notes:
1.Device filled with 16-bit counters.
2.V
CCA
, V
= 2.7V, device tested at room temperature.
CCI
eX Dynamic Power Consumption – Low Frequency
eX Family FPGAs
eX 64
eX 128
eX 256
Notes:
1.Device filled with 16-bit counters.
2.V
CCA
, V
= 2.7V, device tested at room temperature.
CCI
80
70
60
50
40
30
Power (mW)
20
10
0
0 1020304050
Frequency (MH z)
eX64
eX128
eX256
10v3.0
eX Family FPGAs
Total Dynamic Power (mW)
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
Total Dynamic Power (mW)
20
0
0255075100125150175200
Freque nc y (MHz)
System Power at 5%, 10%, and 15% Duty Cycle
12,000
10,000
32-bit Dec ode r
8 x 8-bi t Count e rs
SDRAM Controller
8,000
6,000
4,000
System Power (uW)
2,000
0
5% DC
10% DC
15% DC
0 102030405060
Freque ncy ( M Hz)
v3.011
Junction Temperature (TJ)
The temperature variable in the Designer Series software
refers to the junction temperature, not the ambient
temperature. This is an important distinction because the
heat generated from dynamic power consumption is usually
hotter than the ambient temperature. Equation 1, shown
below, can be used to calculate junction temperature.
Junction Temperature =
∆T + T
a
(1)
Where:
= Ambient Temperature
T
a
∆T = Temperature gradient between junction (silicon) and
ambient
∆T = θ
ja
* P
P = Power
eX Family FPGAs
θ
= Junction to ambient of package. θja numbers are
ja
located in the Package Thermal Characteristics section
below.
Package Thermal Characteristics
The device junction to case thermal characteristic is θjc,
θ
and the junction to ambient air characteristic is
thermal characteristics for
θ
are shown with two different
ja
. The
ja
air flow rates.
The maximum junction temperature is 150
°C.
A sample calculation of the absolute maximum power
dissipation allowed for a TQFP 100-pin package at
commercial temperature and still air is as follows: