Aug 30, 2002
Combining powerful new EDA software, configurable analog modules (CAMs), and programmable silicon, Anadigmvortex reduces the time required for analog design implementations from months to minutes. With this second-generation family, designers can construct complex analog functions with a drag-and-drop EDA tool and adjust functionality directly in automatically generated C-code. In a breakthrough that puts analog techniques in the hands of the system designer, now analog functions can be controlled, updated, and manipulated by the system processor in real time.
"With Anadigmvortex, we're bringing analog into alignment with the industry trend toward integrated reconfigurable hardware where field-programmable systems are now converging," said Mike Kay, Anadigm president and CEO. "With design cycles constantly accelerating, system designers are turning to programmable systems to stay competitive. Anadigmvortex fully integrates analog into these systems, giving designers the power to implement analog functions in reconfigurable hardware and to update these functions from within the software."
FPAAs give designers and manufacturers increased flexibility, versatility, and product lifetime by allowing applications-specific analog circuitry to be programmed during printed circuit board assembly, in the field, or by an embedded microcontroller within the end system. By combining easy-to-use EDA tools with pretested and pre-qualified silicon, time to solution is drastically reduced compared with an analog ASIC or a discrete implementation.
"Anadigm is making a significant contribution to the automation of analog design, and even more importantly is helping to bring analog into the system-level mainstream by enabling real-time updating and reconfiguration of analog functions by the system microprocessor," said industry analyst Tony Massimini, Micrologic chief of technology at Semico.
Automatic C-code generation and the dynamic reconfigurability provided by Anadigmvortex are breakthrough capabilities in the analog space, allowing analog functions to be controlled as a peripheral in an embedded microcontroller-based system. FPAA functionality can now be modified on the fly by reloading new device configurations in real time, allowing the device operation to be "time-sliced," eliminating the need for multiple circuits to handle multiple analog functions. Dynamic reconfigurability can also be used to provide continuous operating point monitoring as well as to compensate for component aging and environmental changes.
The programmability of Anadigmvortex additionally allows manufacturers to use a single component for multiple applications or product variants. For example, sensor module manufacturers can now make a single FPAA-based signal conditioning front end that can be used to interface with a wide range of sensors simply by reconfiguring the FPAA.
Anadigmvortex consists of four distinct elements:
AnadigmDesigner2 -- An advanced EDA tool that enables the design and implementation of dynamically reconfigurable analog circuits within a matter of minutes. With an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, AnadigmDesigner2 software allows complete analog systems to be built rapidly, simulated immediately, and then downloaded to the FPAA chip for testing and validation. Automatic generation of C-code that describes the analog functions performed by the FPAA allows these to be adjusted and controlled directly by a microprocessor within an embedded system. The process by which the designer instructs AnadigmDesigner2 to create the API to be used by the system processor to execute reconfigurability is completely automated.
Configurable Analog Modules -- Anadigm provides a growing library of CAMs, each of which can be used to implement a range of user-parameterizable analog functions. CAMs greatly simplify the design of complex analog systems by allowing the designer to work at a higher level of abstraction in describing the system functionality.
AN220E04 FPAA Silicon -- The AN220E04 is the industry's first FPAA that can be dynamically reconfigured to allow real-time control, updating, and manipulation of analog functions by microprocessors in a wide range of electronic systems. A single AN220E04 can thus be programmed to implement multiple analog functions and/or to adapt on the fly to maintain precision operation despite system degradation and aging. Based on a fully differential switched capacitor technology with an analog switch fabric, the second-generation AN220E04 has been redesigned to boost device functionality and performance.
Development System -- A flexible, single-chip development system board is available to help designers prototype analog circuits and systems. The board is easy to use and provides features that simplify input/output connections as well as configuration expansion options. In conjunction with AnadigmDesigner2, this development board is an ideal vehicle for designers to explore programmable analog design.
Pricing and Availability
A complete evaluation kit, including a development board, entry-level software, and updated documentation, is now available from Anadigm for $499.00. A multimedia demonstration of the complete analog design solution can be viewed at the Anadigm Web site at http://www.anadigm.com.
About Anadigm
Anadigm combines the three most powerful design trends from the digital world (design automation, field-programmable ICs, real-time updating) into a platform for analog design, greatly reducing cost of ownership for analog signal conditioning and processing functions across many market segments. Founded in January 2000 as a venture-backed technology spinoff from Motorola, the company maintains U.S. headquarters in Campbell, Calif., and European headquarters in Crewe, U.K. For further information, visit Anadigm on the Web at http://www.anadigm.com.
Anadigm and AnadigmDesigner are registered trademarks of Anadigm, Inc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
Anadigm, Inc. 1901 S. Bascom Ave. Suite 1550
Campbell, CA 95008
Tel: 1-408-879-6677
Fax: 1-408-879-6670
EUROPE
Anadigm Ltd
3 - 5 Mallard Court, Mallard Way
Crewe Business Park, Crewe
Cheshire, England CW1 6ZQ
Tel: +44 (0)1270 531990
Fax: +44 (0)1270 531999
Media Contact:
Rae Morrow
Wall Street Communications
Tel: 408-374-5064
Fax: 408-516-9840
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