Home > Products > In-System Emulation Technology VarioTAP ported to Xilinx FPGA embedded Softcore

Design

In-System Emulation Technology VarioTAP ported to Xilinx FPGA embedded Softcore

8th December 2010

ES Admin

0 0

GOEPEL electronic, world-class vendor of JTAG/Boundary Scan solutions, announces the development of a dedicated model library for Xilinx MicroBlaze™ softcore architecture that supports the innovative emulation technology VarioTAP®. The libraries, described as VarioTAP® models, are structured modularly as intelligent IP and enable a complete fusion of Boundary Scan test and JTAG emulation. Employing this technology, embedded or external Flash can be in-system programmed via the native processor function. Furthermore, VarioTAP® supports interlaced Bus Emulation Tests (BET) and System Emulation Tests (SET) for extended JTAG/Boundary Scan functionality.

“From our point of view, the future of the embedded section belongs to FPGA based systems because of their flexibility and the currently available integration level. Our VarioTAP models for Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture support one of the most widely used softcores on the market”, says Thomas Wenzel, Managing Director of GOEPEL electronic’s JTAG Boundary Scan Division. “Now we are able for the first time to execute respective hardware configurations and subsequently implement FPGA central test and programming strategies up to real-time operations and problem-specific diagnosis procedures in one run. In combination with our recently introduced ChipVORX technology we open a new chapter in adaptive FPGA embedded instrumentations.”

Users of the new VarioTAP® models are able to combine structural Boundary Scan tests with functional emulation tests for all components connected to the MicroBlaze™ on one platform. This includes the tests of DDR RAM, serial high-speed bus interfaces as well as the functional test of analogue and digital I/O. Also the execution of customer-specific IP is trouble free.

The adaptive streaming technology of the TAP signals allows emulation tests to be executed in parallel or interactively with Boundary Scan tests within a test program utilising a multitude of possible configurations including multi processor and multi core applications.

The use of VarioTAP® does not require expert background knowledge, additional development tools or processor-specific pods, which makes the handling easy and uncomplicated.

Due to the OEM cooperation with all leading vendors of In-Circuit Testers (ICT), Manufacturing Defect Analysers (MDA), Flying Probe Testers (FPT) and Functionality Testers (FT), the new solution is available for production with immediate effect.
The new VarioTAP IP models are supported as standard starting from SYSTEM CASCON™ version 4.5.4, and are activated by the licence manager in the system software. SYSTEM CASCON™ is a professional JTAG/Boundary Scan development environment, developed by GOEPEL electronic with currently 45 completely integrated ISP, test, and debug tools. Regarding the hardware, VarioTAP® is completely supported by the controllers of the SCANBOOSTER™ family, as well as by the hardware platform SCANFLEX®.