Documentation

Download the latest versions of Achronix application notes, datasheets, product briefs, user guides and white papers.

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Title Description Version Released Date Document File
FPGAs and eFPGAs Accelerate ML Inference at the Edge (WP026)

With the rapid proliferation of Internet-of-Things (IoT) and billions of connected devices, there is a paradigm shift taking place where big data is not only being processed in the core data center but also at the network edge. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), sitting at the intersection of performance and flexibility, are a promising solution for deep learning edge inference applications.

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Data Orchestration Supports the Next Advance in AI (WP025)

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies now power a rapidly expanding range of product and applications from deeply embedded systems to hyperscale data-center deployments. Although there is a huge degree of diversity in the hardware designs supporting these applications, all require hardware acceleration. Data orchestration encompasses the pre- and post-processing operations that ensure the data seen by a machine learning engine arrives at an optimal speed and in the most suitable form for efficient processing.

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An FPGA-Based Solution for a Graph Neural Network Accelerator (WP024)

Thanks to the rise of big data and the rapid increase in computing power, machine learning technology has experienced revolutionary development in recent years. Machine learning tasks such as image classification, speech recognition, and natural language processing, operate on Euclidean data with a certain size, dimension, and an orderly arrangement. However, in many realistic scenarios, data is represented by complex non-Euclidean data such as graphs. In this context, many new graph-based machine learning algorithm, or graph neural networks (GNNs), are constantly emerging in academia and industry.

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The AI Evolution Calls for Adaptable Inferencing Platforms (WP023)

Deep learning's demand for computing power is growing at an incredible rate, accelerating recently from doubling every year to doubling every three months. Increasing the capacity of deep neural network (DNN) models has shown improvements across a wide range of areas ranging from natural language processing to image processing. This growth calls for the adoption of customized architectures that squeeze the greatest amount of performance out of each transistor available.

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FPGAs for Advanced Video Processing Solutions (WP022)

While the performance of an ASIC is typically high enough for broadcast-quality video processing, it supports only the feature set conceived of at design time and is not field upgradable. A CPU is the most flexible and easiest to design; however, clock frequencies have plateaued, and the era of dramatic improvements in performance are over. FPGAs represent a good balance between performance and flexibility for this class of applications.

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Title Description Version Released Date Document File
Speedcore User Interface Timing Sign-off Methodology (AN009)

Timing sign-off between the host ASIC and the Speedcore boundary is one of the most crucial steps in ensuring proper integration of a Speedcore instance into a customer's SoC.

1.1 Speedcore_User_Interface_Timing_Sign-off_Methodology_AN009.pdf
SoC-Speedcore Interface Tests (AN022)

The input and output paths between the host SoC and a Speedcore instance are an important test component. It is essential to have a structure that ties seamlessly to the SoC's test flow without requiring special functions such as loading a bitstream in the Speedcore instance.

1.0 SoC-Speedcore_Interface_Tests_AN022.pdf
Mentor Catapult HLS to Hardware Walkthrough (AN021)

The goal of this demonstration design is to provide the user with an end-to-end experience of taking a design module written in C through Mentor's Catapult HLS to generate an RTL code which can then be run through synthesis (Synplify Pro) and ACE place and route to generate a bitstream.

0.0 Mentor_Catapult_HLS_to_Hardware_Walkthrough_AN021.pdf
Production Testing of Speedcore eFPGAs (AN017)

The robustness of ATE production testing is critical to the success and quality of Speedcore eFPGAs. The overall objectives in the implementation and delivery are to reach coverage metrics and allow for industrystandard DPM targets to be met at minimal cost.

1.0 Production_Testing_of_Speedcore_eFPGAs_AN017.pdf
Running Achronix Tools on Ubuntu (AN006)

The Achronix tool chain is formally supported for a number of operating systems (OSes) as listed in the ACE User Guide (UG001). For these OSes, Achronix guarantees operation, and each release of the tool is thoroughly tested on each of those platforms.

1.1 Running_Achronix_Tools_on_Ubuntu_AN006.pdf
Title Description Version Released Date Document File
Maximize Hardware Assurance Using Embedded FPGAs (PB035)

Implementing a secure IP solution when developing a custom ASIC involves overcoming many risks along the development, manufacturing and supply chain flow. Hardware assurance continues to become more critical for military and defense applications as worldwide threats increase. By using an eFPGA IP solution to store mission critical IP, supply chain security is greatly simplified compared to the traditional ASIC design flow.

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Speedcore eFPGA Test Chip Evaluation Board (PB030)

The Speedcore eFPGA evaluation board from Achronix contains the 16-nm Speedcore eFPGA test chip. The evaluation board’s Speedcore test chip has been customized with the right blend of resources such as LUTs, BRAMs, DSP64s, DFFs and a number of I/O so as to provide an optimum programmable platform for demonstrating, evaluating and testing Achronix’s Speedcore technology.

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Title Description Version Released Date Document File
Speedster7t Soft IP User Guide (UG103)

This document describes the available soft IP cores and the methods for configuration and instantiation of each.

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ACE Installation and Licensing Guide (UG002)

This guide covers software installation and licensing of ACE software under both Windows and Linux operating software.

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Speedster7t SerDes User Guide (UG099)

This product guide describes the function and operation of the Achronix Speedster7t FPGA SerDes for multi-standard applications and custom configurations.

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Getting Started User Guide (UG105)

This guide serves as a concise introduction to the Achronix tool flow using the Quickstart design included with all ACE installations.

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Speedster7t Clock and Reset Architecture User Guide (UG083)

This document explains the architecture of the different clock networks in a Speedster7t FPGA and and provides information on how to use the clocks.

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