Artix-7

The Artix-7 FPGA family is one of the four FPGA families from Xilinx, the other three being Kintex-7, Virtex-7, and Zynq-7000. The Artix-7 FPGA family targets cost-sensitive and high-volume applications that require high performance and low power consumption. The family consists of various devices, ranging from the smallest Artix-7 FPGA with 6K logic cells to the largest device with 1.6 million logic cells. The family also includes variants with integrated transceivers that can operate at up to 28.2 Gbps.

Attributes 

The Artix-7 FPGA family is built using the 28nm process technology, which provides a good balance between performance, power consumption, and cost. The family features a unified architecture optimized for high-speed, low-power, and cost-sensitive applications. The architecture includes various features, such as:

  1. High-Performance Logic Fabric: The high-performance logic fabric in the Artix-7 FPGA family is designed to support high-speed and low-latency applications. The logic fabric consists of look-up tables (LUTs) and flip-flops and carries logic and dedicated arithmetic resources that can be used to implement complex functions and algorithms. The LUTs are used to implement combinational logic functions, while the flip-flops are used to store sequential data. The carry logic is used to implement arithmetic operations efficiently, and the dedicated arithmetic resources can be used to implement complex mathematical functions, such as multiplication and division. The logic fabric in the Artix-7 FPGA family is optimized for high-speed operation and low power consumption, making it well-suited for a wide range of applications.

  2. High-Speed Transceivers: The Artix-7 FPGA family includes integrated transceivers that can operate at up to 28.2 Gbps. The transceivers support protocols, including PCIe Gen2, SATA, and 10G Ethernet. The transceivers are designed to support high-speed data communication and enable the Artix-7 FPGA to be used in applications that require high-speed data transfer, such as wireless communication and video processing. The high-speed transceivers are optimized for high-speed operation and low power consumption, making them well-suited for a wide range of applications.

  3. DSP Slices: The Artix-7 FPGA family includes dedicated digital signal processing (DSP) slices that can implement complex digital signal processing functions, such as filtering, modulation, and demodulation. The DSP slices include dedicated multipliers, adders, and accumulators that can be configured to implement various DSP functions efficiently. The DSP slices in the Artix-7 FPGA family are optimized for high-speed operation and low power consumption, making them well-suited for a wide range of applications.

  4. Memory Controllers: The Artix-7 FPGA family includes hard IP blocks that can be used to implement various memory interfaces, such as DDR3, DDR4, and LPDDR3. The memory controllers are designed to support high-speed and low-latency memory access and enable the Artix-7 FPGA to be used in applications that require high-speed data processing and storage. The memory controllers in the Artix-7 FPGA family are optimized for high-speed operation and low power consumption, making them well-suited for a wide range of applications. The memory controllers include various features, such as error correction codes (ECC), which can be used to ensure data integrity.

Applications

The Artix-7 FPGA family is well-suited for various applications, including:

  1. Wireless Communications: The Artix-7 FPGA is a versatile device with high-speed transceivers, digital signal processing (DSP) slices, and memory controllers, making it well-suited for wireless communication applications. The high-speed transceivers can support various protocols, including Ethernet, PCIe, and Serial RapidIO, enabling a range of wireless communication systems such as cellular base stations, wireless backhaul, and wireless infrastructure. The DSP slices in the Artix-7 FPGA are programmable. They can perform complex signal processing functions, such as filtering and modulation, making them ideal for wireless communication systems that require high-performance signal processing. The memory controllers in the Artix-7 FPGA enable efficient buffering and storage of data, which is crucial for wireless communication systems that deal with large amounts of data.

  2. Aerospace and Defense: The Artix-7 FPGA is popular for aerospace and defense applications due to its high performance, low power consumption, and radiation tolerance. The FPGA’s high-performance capabilities make it well-suited for radar systems, which require fast signal processing and high-speed data transfer. The Artix-7 FPGA’s low power consumption is essential for aerospace and defense applications because power consumption can impact the system’s overall performance. Additionally, the Artix-7 FPGA’s radiation tolerance is a significant advantage for aerospace and defense applications because electronic systems used in these environments are exposed to radiation that can damage or interfere with the system’s performance.

  3. Industrial Automation: The Artix-7 FPGA is ideal for industrial automation applications because of its high-speed and low-latency logic fabric and memory controllers. These features enable it to efficiently perform real-time control and monitoring functions, which is essential for industrial automation systems. The Artix-7 FPGA can be used in factory automation to control machinery and robotics, process control systems, and motor control applications. The FPGA can control conveyor belts, robotic arms, and other machinery in factory automation. In contrast, in process control systems, the FPGA can be used to monitor and control parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates. The Artix-7 FPGA’s high-speed and low-latency logic fabric also makes it possible to implement highly accurate and precise feedback control systems.

  4. Video Processing: The Artix-7 FPGA’s high-speed transceivers, DSP slices, and memory controllers make it ideal for video processing applications. The FPGA can implement various video processing functions, such as encoding, decoding, and transcoding. The high-speed transceivers in the Artix-7 FPGA can support high-bandwidth video streams, making transmitting and receiving high-quality video data possible. The DSP slices in the FPGA can perform complex signal processing functions, such as image enhancement, which is crucial for video processing applications. The memory controllers in the Artix-7 FPGA enable efficient buffering and storage of video data, which is essential for video processing applications that deal with large amounts of data. The Artix-7 FPGA is commonly used in video cameras, video switchers, and video displays, among other video processing applications.

Development Tools

To develop for the Artix-7 FPGA family, Xilinx provides a comprehensive suite of development tools, including:

  1. Vivado Design Suite: Vivado is a complete design environment that provides a comprehensive set of tools for designing Xilinx FPGA-based systems. The suite includes tools for synthesis, place-and-route, timing analysis, and simulation. It also has advanced design features, such as high-level synthesis, IP integration, and system-level design. Vivado is designed to support all Xilinx FPGA families, including Artix-7, and is known for its high-quality results and easy-to-use interface. Vivado enables designers to create high-performance, low-power FPGA designs quickly and easily.

  2. Vivado HLS: Vivado HLS (High-Level Synthesis) is a tool that enables designers to create FPGA designs using C, C++, or SystemC. With Vivado HLS, designers can write high-level descriptions of their designs, which are automatically converted into RTL code. This can significantly reduce design time and improve design quality. Vivado HLS also enables designers to explore different design options quickly and easily, enabling them to achieve the best possible design performance.

  3. PetaLinux: PetaLinux is a Linux distribution for Xilinx embedded systems, such as the Zynq-7000 and Artix-7. It provides a development environment for embedded software, including device drivers, user applications, and boot loaders. PetaLinux is designed to be easy to use and includes a range of pre-built components, making it easy for designers to get started quickly. PetaLinux also includes tools for debugging and profiling, enabling designers to optimize the performance of their embedded systems.

  4. Xilinx SDK: Xilinx SDK (Software Development Kit) is an integrated development environment (IDE) for developing software for Xilinx embedded systems, such as the Zynq-7000 and Artix-7. Xilinx SDK supports C, C++, and assembly languages and provides tools for debugging, profiling, and performance analysis. Xilinx SDK includes a range of pre-built components, such as drivers and libraries, making it easy for designers to get started quickly. Xilinx SDK also includes tools for system-level design, enabling designers to integrate their software and hardware designs seamlessly.

In addition to the development tools, Xilinx provides various IP cores, reference designs, and development boards for the Artix-7 FPGA family. The IP cores include different digital signal processing (DSP) functions, memory controllers, and high-speed transceivers. The reference designs provide examples of how to implement various functions and algorithms on the Artix-7 FPGA. The development boards provide a platform for prototyping and testing Artix-7 FPGA designs, including multiple peripherals, such as Ethernet, USB, and HDMI interfaces.

Capabilities

The Artix-7 FPGA family is known for its high-performance capabilities, low power consumption, high-level integration, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for designers who require high-performance FPGA solutions at a reasonable cost. The family includes a range of devices with varying capabilities, including high-speed transceivers, dedicated digital signal processing (DSP) slices, integrated memory controllers, PCIe interfaces, and Ethernet interfaces, among others. These capabilities make the Artix-7 FPGA family suitable