(PRWEB) August 21, 2005
FPGA devices are generally considered to be difficult to use and involve learning software languages such as VHDL, which tends to put off electronics engineers. Although you can use a programming language, you can also use a schematic from your favorite PCB package as the design entry. Yes, you say, thats very good but doesnt that type of software cost thousands of dollars? And the answer is not any more.
Kanda are now supplying a FPGA training and development kit with everything needed to learn about FPGAs, teach FPGAs or just develop an embedded design. You can start from a schematic or use VHDL, depending on your preferences for hardware or software. Once you enter your VHDL code or schematic into the software, everything else is covered from compilation through synthesis and simulation to programming and running the results on real hardware.
The kit includes example code and tutorials on how to create and fit a design into an Altera Cyclone FPGA, which is probably the lowest cost FPGA on the market. The hardware includes switches, lights and displays, with full schematics to help your own design.
The Altera SignalTap II Logic Analyser forms part of the kit to capture and trace signals in real time as part of the design process. So, with simulation and synthesis plus a built-in logic analyzer, you have everything needed to produce efficient designs. Then try them out on the hardware, or connect extra circuitry to the built-in expansion port. And that is it you will be able to use low cost FPGAs wherever you want to.
For more information, see
http://www.kanda.com/products/Kanda/QB-FPGA100.html
About Kanda:
Kanda manufacture and supply a wide range of embedded system tools. We are specialists in In System Programming, low cost emulators and training systems for a wide range of microcontrollers, PLDs and memory devices, including PIC, AVR, ST7 and COP8. We also supply interfaces for USB, CAN Bus and serial to Ethernet conversion.
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